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Category: Africa

Taveta Golden Weaver

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Taveta Golden Weaver

(Ploceus castaneiceps)

Seneca Park Zoo is the home to a flock of Taveta golden weavers. They can be found in the large aviary inside the Animals of the Savanna building.

Animal Facts

Males are a vibrant yellow color with green wings, whereas females are a more muted olive-yellow color.
Taveta weavers are classified as songbirds, however their “song” is loud and harsh.
Female weavers choose their mate based on the male’s ability to weave an intricate nest.

Diet

Taveta golden weavers are omnivores. They primarily feed on seeds, but can also eat grains, grasses and insects.
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Status in The Wild

  • Least Concern

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

These weavers are found in parts of Kenya and Tanzania. They inhabit a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands, and savannas.

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Ambassador Animal)

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

(Gromphadorhina portentosa)

Seneca Park Zoo raises a colony of Madagascar hissing cockroaches, both young and old and both males and females.

Animal Facts

When threatened, they hiss by forcibly pushing air out of tiny breathing holes.
Males can be distinguished by small – but prominent – bumpy horns near their head that are used to intimidate rival males during breeding.
They hiss when disturbed or when defending territory, and to attract a mate, males hiss more than females
Cockroaches are a very old insect species with some fossils estimated to be three hundred million years old!
Slow moving and docile, cannot fly.

Diet

Like other cockroaches, Madagascar hissing cockroaches are decomposers, meaning they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. They prefer plant sources such as fallen leaves and fruit.

Status in natural range

As the name suggests, Madagascar hissing cockroaches are only found in Madagascar, a large island nation off the southeast coast of mainland Africa. They prefer to live on the floor of tropical forests.

Although not yet evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they are considered not threatened because of their observable large population size. However, their forest habitats are some of the most threatened areas in Madagascar due to deforestation for mining and agricultural purposes. As decomposers, these cockroaches are important nutrient-cyclers in the local food chains.

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Madagascar Tree Boa (Ambassador Animal)

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Madagascar Tree Boa

(Sanzinia madagascariensis)

There is one male Madagascar tree boa at Seneca Park Zoo. He was born in 2007 and came to the Zoo in 2015.

Animal Facts

While they provide some protection for the skin, the major role of scales is to prevent water loss – they provide a water-tight covering preventing dehydration for ectothermic animals that depend on basking in the sun for their body heat.
Though referred to as a tree boa, this snake is more commonly found on the ground. It’s designation as a tree boa perhaps stems from the fact that it is more arboreal than the other boas found on Madagascar.
The offspring of tree boas are a brilliant scarlet color, with darker markings, presumably as a mimicry warning coloration against predators and also as camouflage amongst the brightly colored treetop flowers.

Diet

Madagascar tree boas feed primarily on birds, bats and small, ground-dwelling mammals.
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Status in The Wild

  • Least Concern

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

This snake is found solely on the island of Madagascar and on the small nearby island of Nosy Be. It can be found throughout the islands’ forested habitats, primarily where water is nearby.

Though very common throughout Madagascar, these snakes are still considered at risk. Their habitat is being lost through deforestation and mining. It is believed that only 15% of Madagascar’s original forested areas remain. Listed as CITES Appendix I, which means that it is threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, (example: scientific research). Though sales are prohibited, there is still a problem with illegal pet trade.

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Congo African Grey Parrot (Ambassador Animal)

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Congo African Grey Parrot

(Psittacus erithacus erithacus)

The Zoo is home to one African grey parrot named Minnow. He was born in 1995 and came to the Zoo in 1998. African grey parrots are well known for their ability to mimic sounds and words, and Minnow is no exception. Minnow is a part of the program animal collection.

Animal Facts

Greys are extremely social and will form a communal nesting area of several hundred. They have been observed roosting in tall palms in groups ranging from several hundred to thousands of birds.
African greys have a powder produced by feather on their flanks that helps to clean and protect their feathers. This powder also makes their feathers waterproof, a necessary adaptation for surviving in a tropical climate.
African greys can commonly be seen in the wild on the ground at waterholes where they ingest mud and minerals. This is thought to be an adaptation to compensate for increased pesticide and toxin levels in their food – the soil eaten absorbs the toxins that they would otherwise ingest.

Diet

The diet of the African grey parrot consists of the fruits, seeds, nuts and berries of several native rainforest species, including the flesh of oil-palm trees. Its powerful bill can crush most seeds and nuts.

Status in The Wild

  • Near Threatened

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

The Congo African grey is found in Equatorial Africa, ranging from Angola to The Ivory Coast, inland from Kenya to Tanzania. It inhabits rainforests, cultivated land, mangroves, wooded savannas and gardens.

Unfortunately, the African grey parrot has become popular in the pet trade due to its attractive colors and unbelievable talent to mimic sounds and words. It is in the top three most commonly traded birds. Due to such a large demand, baby greys are stolen from the wild to supply the demand. The U.S. Wild Bird Act forbids the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots — endangered or threatened.

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Dumeril’s Ground Boa (Ambassador Animal)

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Dumeril's Ground Boa

(Acrantophis dumerili)

The Zoo is home to two Dumeril’s ground boas, a female named Ursula and her male offspring, Triton. Ursala’s habitat can be found inside the Creatures of the River’s Edge building. Triton was born at the Zoo in August 2018 and is currently a part of the Zoo’s ambassador animal collection.

Animal Facts

Six to eight months after mating, females give birth to a litter anywhere from around 6 up to nearly 30 babies, each measuring 12 to 18 inches.
Dumeril’s have some interesting behavior differences from most other boa species, particularly their style of ambush hunting.
Heavy-bodied snake, terrestrial, solitary, crepuscular and nocturnal, kill by constriction.
Live bearers, “eggs” develop within female’s body
Pattern makes good camouflage in leaf litter on forest floor.

Diet

Small animals such as birds, lizards and frogs.
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Status in The Wild

  • Least Concern

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

The Dumeril’s ground boa is found along the western coast and southwestern regions of Madagascar. The preferred habitat of this reptile is a semi-arid forested area with low amounts of rainfall.

Listed as CITES Appendix I, which puts strict limits on its exportation from Madagascar. Their numbers are declining due to habitat destruction in order to create agricultural areas or grazing for livestock; they are killed due to fear and superstition. Their skins are sold in the markets of Madagascar as well as other countries. They are also exported to be sold in the pet trade.

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Great Plated Lizard

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Great Plated Lizard

(Gerrhosaurus major)

There is one great plated lizard here at the Zoo, a male born in 2016. He came to the Zoo in 2017 from Brookfield Zoo. Great plated lizards have a short head, large eyes and a tail that is usually twice the length of its body. The legs appear delicate because they are smaller than other lizards, such as iguanas. This reptile has rough scales on its head.

Animal Facts

The great plated lizard is diurnal, meaning it is awake during the day and would prefer to use its tail in defense rather than biting when threatened.
They can live up to 20 years and grow up to two feet long.
When threatened, they run into rocky crevices, which makes them almost invulnerable to predators.
Males are larger than females and have a more brightly-colored throat.
Females lay 2-4 large eggs that take 3-4 months to hatch

Diet

Young lizards will eat fruits, leaves and other vegetation as well as insects, spiders and other small invertebrates. In conservation care, older animals will eat small mice/rodents and commercial canned dog food.

Status in The Wild

  • Not Evaluated

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

Ranges from eastern Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. Lives on rocky hills where sparse vegetation grows. They will hide in the cracks of the hills or between rocks.

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Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko

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Henkel's Leaf-Tailed Gecko

(Uroplatus henkeli)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to six leaf-tailed geckos. Their habitats can be found inside the Creatures of the River’s Edge building; 3 reside in their on habitat while 3 are in the giant Madagascar Green Gecko habitat.

Animal Facts

Leaf-tailed geckos use their superb coloration, fringed skin, and leaf-like tail to blend into their surroundings.
They usually hide with their tail up, like a leaf.
If threatened, this gecko can drop its tail, leaving it behind to distract the predator. A new, slightly different tail will grow back.
Solitary except for the breeding season
Arboreal; nocturnal, sleep all day in a head down position; no eyelids, licks eyes to keep them clean

Diet

Carnivorous. Eats primarily insects and arachnids, but may also eat some snails.
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Status in The Wild

  • Vulnerable

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

Inhabits lower levels of trees in dense, low-altitude rainforest in four separated areas in Western and Northern Madagascar.

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Lake Malawi Cichlids

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Lake Malawi Cichlids

(Cichlidae)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to multiple species of Lake Malawi cichlids. The cichlid aquarium can be found inside the Animals of the Savanna building. Many of the species have very similar behaviors, and almost all of them eat algae and plankton. However, they do live at varying depths.

Animal Facts

Lake Malawi Cichlids are very colorful freshwater fish.
Since each species is specialized to use the environment in different ways, they do not compete for food or habitat within Lake Malawi.
Studying the diversity of these cichlids is important to understanding the science of speciation: the evolution of new species.
Lake Malawi is a freshwater lake over 300 miles long and around 50 miles wide, and is an African Great Lake.

Diet

Hundreds of cichlid species reside in Lake Malawi, and each species has a very specific diet as either algae scrapers, fish eaters, or insectivores.

Status in The Wild

  • Not Evaluated

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

These cichlids are endemic to Lake Malawi, which runs through areas of Tanzania, Mozambique, and Malawi. They are found in varying depths and micro-habitats within the freshwater lake.

Their threats include pollution, invasive species, and overfishing for the pet trade.

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Pancake Tortoise (Ambassador Animal)

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Pancake Tortoise

(Malacochersus tornieri)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to three Pancake tortoises, one male and two female. A male and a female reside inside the Animals of the Savanna building, while the second female serves as a program animal.

Animal Facts

Unlike most tortoises that sport a heavy domed shell, the Pancake tortoise relies on its speed and flattened shape to outrun and hide from its predators.
The average size of an Pancake tortoise is six to seven inches long and one inch thick.
To lock itself into a protective crevice, the Pancake tortoise will take in a large quantity of air to expand its flexible shell to fit the space between the rocks.
Pancake tortoises have one or two clutches of eggs per year, of one to four eggs each clutch.
They are excellent climbers and active at dawn and dusk; spend day in rock crevices and spend very little time away from their hiding place.

Diet

Pancake tortoises are strictly herbivorous. They eat dry grasses, fallen fruits and available vegetation.

Status in natural range

  • Critically Endangered

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

These tortoises inhabit isolated locations in eastern Africa, from Kenya to Tanzania. The habitat they prefer is areas of small hills with rocky outcropping in arid thornbrush.

Pancake tortoises are popular in the pet trade, which has made them considerably vulnerable in the wild. Habitat loss in Africa combined with a slow reproductive rate make this species’ recovery difficult.

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African Penguin

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African Penguin

(Spheniscuc demersus)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to a thriving colony of African penguins.  Thirty adult penguins currently call our zoo home. Their habitat is outdoors along the Rocky Coasts.

Animal Facts

The Zoo has hatched over 100 penguins, most of which have been sent to other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.
African penguins have up to 70 feathers per square inch. These feathers are stiff and overlap in layers, trapping air against their skin. This makes their feathers both windproof and waterproof.
Seneca Park Zoo partners with SANCCOB, the largest volunteer-based wildlife organization in the world. Volunteers rehabilitate thousands of coastal birds every year that fall victim to oil spills or are orphaned due to lack of fish.
They will generally pair bond for life.
These penguins molt once a year; molt takes 20 days.

Diet

African penguins are carnivorous, eating fish and crustaceans. They rely heavily on sardines and anchovies, which are being overfished by humans.
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Status in The Wild

  • Endangered

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status

African penguins live in large colonies along the coast of southern Africa, and prefer water temperatures between 40°F and 70°F. They use their own excrement, called guano, to build nests under bushes and rocks.

The biggest threats to African penguins are rising sea temperatures, overfishing, and oil spills.

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