ZooLab Visit on 25/08/16
Visit zoolab at:-
http://www.zoolabuk.com/en-gb/home.aspx
The Ranger visited us on Thursday 25th August 2016 to present the workshop Textures and Senses.
Visit our
Achatina fulica
Description: Very large snail. Shell colour brown with various light and dark markings. Total length (including shell) up to 15 - 20 cm.
Habitats: Tropical grassland, tropical dry forest, and urbanised areas
Global distribution: East Africa (introduced to several other countries - now an invasive species)
Diet: Vegetation, fruits, and vegetables
Predators: Mammals, birds, and hermit crabs (who try to steal the snail's shell as a new home)
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Description: Large wingless cockroach, with six legs. Generally orange-reddish body colour with black head and legs. Up to 7.5 cm in length
Habitats: Rotten logs, forest floors
Global distribution: Madagascar (an island off the coast of Africa)
Diet: Vegetation – but cockroaches are famous for eating a wide range of food types
Predators: Arachnids, ants, tenrecs, and some ground-feeding birds
Life span: 2 – 5 years (captivity: 5 + years)
Fast fact: Adults can produce a hissing sound when they force air through the respiratory openings (spiracles) found on each segment of their abdomen
Giant African Millipede
Archispirostreptus gigas
Description: Large millipede; up to 38 cm long - generally black in colour. Two pairs of legs per body segment – over 250 legs when fully grown
Habitats: Forest floor
Global distribution: Lowland parts of East Africa
Diet: Decomposing organic matter e.g. vegetation
Predators: Birds, small mammals, and centipedes
Life span: < 4 years (captivity: 5 – 7 yrs)
Fast fact: Giant African millipedes have a symbiotic relationship with mites which live on their exoskeleton ("skin") and near their legs. They provide the mites with a home and food, and the mites keep the millipede’s exoskeleton clean by eating debris off of it. These mites are harmless to people.
Description: Generally up to 10 cm in length. Colouration varies from brown to green with white patches. Eyes are golden. Webbed fingers and toes, with large disc pads which provide gripping when climbing
Madagascar-hissing cockroach
Gromphadorhina portentosa
Description: Large wingless cockroach, with six legs. Generally orange-reddish body colour with black head and legs. Up to 7.5 cm in length
Habitats: Rotten logs, forest floors
Global distribution: Madagascar (an island off the coast of Africa)
Diet: Vegetation – but cockroaches are famous for eating a wide range of food types
Predators: Arachnids, ants, tenrecs, and some ground-feeding birds
Life span: 2 – 5 years (captivity: 5 + years)
Fast fact: Adults can produce a hissing sound when they force air through the respiratory openings (spiracles) found on each segment of their abdomen
Archispirostreptus gigas
Description: Large millipede; up to 38 cm long - generally black in colour. Two pairs of legs per body segment – over 250 legs when fully grown
Habitats: Forest floor
Global distribution: Lowland parts of East Africa
Diet: Decomposing organic matter e.g. vegetation
Predators: Birds, small mammals, and centipedes
Life span: < 4 years (captivity: 5 – 7 yrs)
Fast fact: Giant African millipedes have a symbiotic relationship with mites which live on their exoskeleton ("skin") and near their legs. They provide the mites with a home and food, and the mites keep the millipede’s exoskeleton clean by eating debris off of it. These mites are harmless to people.
Description: Generally up to 10 cm in length. Colouration varies from brown to green with white patches. Eyes are golden. Webbed fingers and toes, with large disc pads which provide gripping when climbing
Cane Toad
Rhinella marina
Description: Large warty toad. Colouration varies from olive to dark browns. Females significantly larger than males; reaching up to 15 cm in length.
Habitats: Large variation; generally open woodland and grassland. Commonly found in urbanised areas, beaches, and dense forests.
Global distribution: Native to the Americas but famous for its introduction as a pest controller to several areas globally, such as Australia – where it has now devastated native species
Diet: Small rodents, other toads, frogs, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates
Predators: Native predators range from caiman, snakes, and birds
Life span: 10 - 15 years (captivity: <30 yrs)
Fast fact: Cane toads have poisonous glands behind their eyes and across their skin. Ingestion of a toad can cause illness and death
Description: Large warty toad. Colouration varies from olive to dark browns. Females significantly larger than males; reaching up to 15 cm in length.
Habitats: Large variation; generally open woodland and grassland. Commonly found in urbanised areas, beaches, and dense forests.
Global distribution: Native to the Americas but famous for its introduction as a pest controller to several areas globally, such as Australia – where it has now devastated native species
Diet: Small rodents, other toads, frogs, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates
Predators: Native predators range from caiman, snakes, and birds
Life span: 10 - 15 years (captivity: <30 yrs)
Fast fact: Cane toads have poisonous glands behind their eyes and across their skin. Ingestion of a toad can cause illness and death
Corn Snake
Description: Limbless reptile. Up to 6ft in length. Colouration varies; often orange with attractive pattern
Habitats: Overgrown fields and forest openings
Global distribution: Southeastern United States
Diet: Small rodents, and other reptiles
Predators: Mammals, birds, and other snakes
Life span: Up to 8 years (captivity: 20 + years)
Fast fact: The name corn snake is believed to have originated from the similarity of the markings on the belly to the chequered pattern of corn on the cob
Pantherophis guttatus
Description: Limbless reptile. Up to 6ft in length. Colouration varies; often orange with attractive pattern
Habitats: Overgrown fields and forest openings
Global distribution: Southeastern United States
Diet: Small rodents, and other reptiles
Predators: Mammals, birds, and other snakes
Life span: Up to 8 years (captivity: 20 + years)
Fast fact: The name corn snake is believed to have originated from the similarity of the markings on the belly to the chequered pattern of corn on the cob