Zoo Miami / May 20, 2013

White Ibis [immature]

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas.

White Ibis [immature]

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas.

White Ibis [immature]

The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is one of the most numerous wading birds in Florida and is common elsewhere in the southeast. The White Ibis is highly sociable at all seasons, roosting and feeding in flocks, and nesting in large colonies. Immature White Ibis are dark brownish with a white belly, white rump, and curved red bill. The White Ibis is an excellent example of the colonial waterbird. These birds nest in huge colonies in fresh water marshes or along the ocean coast. Researchers have counted 60,000-80,000 individuals in one colony in the Everglades National Park, Florida. During the day, White Ibis may fly up to 15 miles or more to find small crustaceans, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects to eat and to feed their young. When breeding, the bill, face, and legs turn scarlet. White Ibis can be found along the coast of North Carolina to Florida and Texas.

Caribbean Flamingo

The Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber), also called the American flamingo, is the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos. With their bright feathers and strongly hooked bills, flamingos are among the most easily recognized waterbirds. Their pink or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. The Caribbean flamingos are the brightest, showing their true colors of red, pink, or orange on their legs, bills, and faces. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers. Their bill is downward bending at its midpoint. They have large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed, which is good for wading. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance.

Green Heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens), a small, stocky wading bird, is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking. The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers. The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron. As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far. But,occasionally some go farther, with individuals going as far as England and France.

Ruddy Duck

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Ruddy Duck

The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), a member of the tribe of "stiff-tailed ducks," has a spiky tail that it often holds straight up in display.

Green Heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens), a small, stocky wading bird, is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking. The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers. The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron. As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far. But,occasionally some go farther, with individuals going as far as England and France.

Sumatran Tiger

This beauty was enjoying the water on a very hot day.The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

This beauty was enjoying the water on a very hot day.The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

Out of the water . . . The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Orchid

Orchid

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

Sumatran Tiger

The Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) is the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and is distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. Sumatran tigers are only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is estimated there are only 300 - 400 left in the wild. (Tiger sub-species formerly found on the islands of Java and Bali are now extinct). They are known for having a “beard” around their faces, and a denser stripe pattern than other tigers. Zoo Miami is fortunate to have two of these beautiful animals. Berani, a male, born March 6, 2008, is a laid back tiger, but will occasionally act aggressively toward his keepers. His favorite enrichment is a plastic barrel hung in his night house. He likes to stand up and bang it around, bite and claw it. Leeloo, a female, born July 9, 2011, is much more reserved than Berani. She loves to sleep on her back with her legs in the air. She enjoys her big, hard plastic boomer balls, palms and branches. She also likes watching her reflection in a mirror! Status: Critically Endangered

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

White-handed Gibbon

The White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is native to Southeast Asia and lives in small family groups in dense forest habitat. They travel through their environment using their long, strong fingers which help form a hook for swinging hand-over-hand method of locomotion known as brachiation. Their coat color ranges from cream to black and does not indicate the age or the gender of the animal. Gibbons are considered the aerial acrobats of the animal world. Their "opposable" thumbs increase dexterity. The White-handed Gibbon, like the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan, is an ape, not a monkey. The chief characteristics distinguishing apes from monkeys are the absence of a tail, their more or less upright posture, and the high development of their brain. Gibbons are forest creatures that live in troops. They have long arms and legs and get around by swinging from branch to branch with their arms, like trapeze artists, or running hurriedly over branches. Their arms can be 2 1/2 times as long as their body length! Status: Endangered --> Status information found at The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Dwarf Caiman

The Dwarf Caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus), the smallest of the crocodiles, rarely reaches a length of five feet. Dwarf caiman are often distinguished by the unusual shape of their head. The skull sits very high and the snout makes an upturned curl. The structure of the skull suggests that they make use of burrows as shelter during the day. They are widely distributed in northern South America where they are still farily common.