Some Reptiles at Chester Zoo

This is the rare Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). The tuatara is a reptile of the family Sphenodontidae, endemic to New Zealand. The two species are the only surviving members of the Sphenodontians who flourished around 200 million years ago. The tuataras resemble lizards, but are equally related to lizards and snakes, which are their closest living relatives. For this reason, they are of great interest in the study of the evolution of lizards and snakes, and for the reconstruction of the appearance and habits of the earliest diapsids (the group that additionally includes birds and crocodiles). The tuatara has been classified as an endangered species since 1895.


This is another critically endangered species – the Utilan Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) from Honduras in the West Indies.


The Sudanese Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx dispar). It’s a hard life, lazing in the artificial sunshine, waiting for the next cricket to appear. Fortunately it is not endangered.


The Philippine Fresh-water Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is only found in the Philippines. In the Philippines, it is strictly prohibited to kill a crocodile, but its status is critically endangered from exploitation and unsustainable fishing methods, such as dynamite fishing.


I love the Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta). Many zoos have one in their collection.

 

More Chester Zoo birds

Some more of the birds at Chester Zoo.



I wouldn’t like to argue with this Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus ).




I like the White-crested Turaco (Turaco leucolophus) because it is ever such a friendly and inquisitive bird, always coming to say hello to me.


The Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea rubra ) used to be killed by the local people for its tail feathers which were prized for making headdresses.



This pair of Eurasian Spoonbill ( Platalea leucorodia ) were building a nest. They have a really large enclosure in which to fly around. It has many other species in it and they can all get up to quite a speed as they travel the hundred yards or so from end to end or side to side.


The beautiful Tufted Duck (Aythya marila) is a British native species and can be found wild on some of the Zoo’s lakes.

Birds at Chester

Some of the colourful birds to be found at Chester Zoo.


Scarlet Ibis ( Eudocimus ruber). They extract dyes from their food to create their brilliant plumage.


The same applies to Caribbean Flamingos ( Phoenicopterus ruber).



This beautiful little bird with a wonderful voice is the Pekin Robin (Leiothrix lutes) found from the Himalayas to China. It lives in heavily wooded areas, starting at 19,685 feet (6,000m) above sea level, most abundant below 6,560 feet (2,000m), usually in groups, in pairs during breeding period. It has a beautiful song which is accompanied in the male by a wing-flapping display.


This is the Fairy Bluebird (Irena puella) which lives in moist hill forests in tropical Southern Asia. It is nearly a foot long and the male has this beautiful iridescent plumage.


This is the Pope Cardinal (Paroaria dominicana) tucking into its dinner.


In one of the many outdoor cages of birds is this beautiful Rufous-breasted Nitava (Nitava sundara).


This is a White-collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris)


And the Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias cordata).