Three-toed Box Turtle (Ambassador Animal)

Three-toed Box Turtle (Ambassador Animal)

(Terrapene carolina triunguis)

The Zoo is home to one Three-toed Box Turtle as part of our ambassador animal program (habitat not on public display).  

Animal Facts

Diet

Omnivorous. Insects, spiders, snails, worms, other small vertebrates, carrion, greens, veggies, and fruit.

Status in natural range

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

Three-toed Box Turtles are currently not evaluated by the IUCN. However, Box Turtles overall are under threat due to habitat destruction and collection for the pet trade

Kenyan Sand Boa (Ambassador Animal)

Kenyan Sand Boa (Ambassador Animal)

(Gongylophis colubrinus)

The Zoo is home to one Kenyan Sand Boa as part of our ambassador animal program (habitat not on public display).  

Animal Facts

Diet

Carnivorous. Small mammals, birds, and lizards – their diet includes naked mole rats.

Status in natural range

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

Main threats to Kenyan Sand Boas are loss of habitat and illegal collection for the pet trade.

Blue-tongue Skink (Ambassador Animal)

Blue-tongue Skink (Ambassador Animal)

(Tiliqua scincoides intermedia)

The Zoo is home to one Blue-tongued Skink as part of our ambassador animal program (habitat not on public display).  

Animal Facts

Diet

Omnivorous. Insects, snails, fruits, berries, wildflowers, and carrion

Status in The Wild

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

Main threats are invasive species and human conflict. The invasive cane toad is a significant threat to the blue-tongue skink as they are poisonous and can cause significant harm to the skinks. They can also be hurt by pesticides such as snail baits. Skinks can eat snails and slugs, as well as other invertebrates that have been poisoned, and then be poisoned themselves.

Bearded Dragon (Ambassador Animal)

Bearded Dragon

(Pogona vitticeps)

The Zoo is home to one bearded dragon as part of our ambassador animal program (habitat not on public display). 

Animal Facts

Diet

Omnivorous. Plant matter, insects, and occasionally small rodents or lizards.

Status in The Wild

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

The bearded dragon is native to the deserts, dry forests, and scrublands of Australia. They prefer semi-arid forests.

They are found in eastern and central Australia from eastern half of southern Australia to the southeastern Northern Territory.  

Ball Python (Ambassador Animal)

Ball Python

(Python regius)

The Zoo’s male ball python was born in 2009 and came to Seneca Park Zoo in 2013. He is a part of the Zoo’s program animal collection.

Animal Facts

Diet

Ball pythons feed primarily on rodents, but will also eat other small mammals and birds. Ball pythons only eat once every few weeks; they can go up to several months with no food.

Status in The Wild

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

The ball python lives in western and central Africa. They can be found in open forests and dry savannas.

Usually they reside in areas near open water where they can cool themselves during hot weather.

Ball pythons are considered threatened in the wild. They are a highly-exploited species and are very important to the pet trade because of their beautiful skin. The ball python mates only every two to three years, so more effort is needed to protect and propagate this species.

Burmese Python

Burmese Python

(Python bivittatus)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to two Burmese pythons, both males. Garrett and Caulkins, reside inside the Zoo’s Creatures from the River’s Edge building. They were hatched in 2016 right here at Seneca Park Zoo. Their parents were longtime zoo residents Abby and Mr. Slithers.

Animal Facts

Diet

The Burmese python eats appropriately sized mammals, reptiles, and birds.

Status in The Wild

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

The jungles and scrublands of Myanmar (Burma), Malasia and Thailand compose the Burmese python’s habitat.

It has been slaughtered to supply the world leather market, as well as for folk medicines and captured for the pet trade. In recent years, extensive captive breeding has helped reduce the threat to Burmese pythons in their native habitat. However, the unauthorized release of pet Burmese pythons into the Everglades has led to the introduction of an invasive species, disrupting the fragile ecosystem.

Giant Day Gecko

Giant Day Gecko

(Phelsuma grandis)

Three giant day geckos, one male and two females, can be found inside the C.R.E. building.

Animal Facts

Diet

Carnivorous. Giant day geckos eat various invertebrates (especially insects), nectar, and occasionally small vertebrates.

Status in The Wild

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

The giant day gecko is native to the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Madagascar.

They are found in the uppermost canopies and often near human settlements and cities.

East African Spiny-Tailed Lizard

East African Spiny-Tailed Lizard

(Cordylus tropidosternum)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to three East African spiny-tailed lizards (Common name: tropical girdled lizard). Their habitat is located inside the Animals of the Savanna building.

Animal Facts

Diet

East African spiny-tailed lizards are carnivores, and feed mainly on invertebrates.

Status in The Wild

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

These lizards are found throughout the southern coast of Kenya to eastern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique.

They are ground-dwellers and prefer dry forest habitats.

New Caledonian Crested Gecko (Ambassador Animal)

New Caledonian Crested Gecko

(Rhacodactylus ciliatus)

Seneca Park Zoo is home to one crested gecko, born in May 2005, arriving at the Zoo in 2007. Their name is Crazy-Eye, and they are a part of the Zoo’s ambassador animal program.

Animal Facts

Diet

The New Caledonian crested gecko feeds on a variety of insects and fruit.

Status in The Wild

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

These geckos are native to the island of New Caledonia, in the southeast Pacific, east of Australia.

This species was once thought to be extinct. It was rediscovered in 1994 and is now listed as endangered.

Red-Eared Slider

Red-Eared Slider

(Trachemys scripta elegans)

There are multiple red-eared sliders at Seneca Park Zoo and they can be found in the pond along the Genesee Trail (seasonally).

Animal Facts

Diet

Omnivore. Adults feed on plant and animal matter. They like to eat snails, tadpoles and fish, as well as duckweed and water lilies.

Status in The Wild

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

Red-eared sliders are from the southeastern United States and also live in New York State. They can often be found basking on logs or stumps in or near water.

Humans are the greatest enemy of red-eared sliders. Each year, turtles are harmed; mainly from habitat destruction and pollution.