Los Angeles Zoo Assignment

Los Angeles Zoo Excursion Spring 2020

Name: ______Class (days/time) you are enrolled in: ______

To get to the zoo: Zoo hours: 10:00-5:00 (everyday)

YOU CAN – Take Interstate 5 south, exit at Western. Go west (right). Left at Victory, Left again at Zoo Drive. Follow the signs.

OR – Take 101 east to the 134; take 134 east (towards Glendale). Exit at Victory, turn right, then immediately turn left at Zoo Drive. Follow the signs.

Answer each of the following questions about primates and other animals. Some of the questions can be answered using information from the signs at the enclosures, the others require that you actually observe the animals. If you do not have enough room on this sheet for an answer, use another.

It is very important that you behave in a non-threatening manner towards the primates. Do not make loud noises and sudden movements while you are observing them, and do not stare at them - they interpret this as a threat.

THIS IS A MANDATORY ASSIGNMENT WORTH 100 POINTS, AND MUST BE TURNED IN WITH EITHER EXAM 2 OR EXAM 3

You must attach your own receipt to the sheet before you turn it in, or show me your zoo membership card.

After you have entered the zoo, proceed towards the shops. Before you get to them, you will see an enclosure on your right.

American Alligator Describe the American alligator’s eating habits.

You will now stroll through the row of shops. Soon after passing the last one on the right, you will be able to make a sharp right turn, and this will take you to the Animal Care Center. In this area, you will be able to find and observe fine examples of three New World primates: Geoffery’s Marmoset, the Golden-lion Tamarin, and the White-faced Saki. Here you will also find the

Tamandua (Animal Care Center) What advantage does the tamandua gain from having a prehensile tail?

Now go further into the zoo. You will soon come to the Meerkat exhibit, which is located on the left as you walk toward the main area of the zoo.

Meerkat Describe meerkat society.

Now proceed towards the main area of the zoo. You will come to a fork in the main road – you will take the road to the left. The first major area you will come to is the LAIR Building (4). Inside, you will find the next animals that you are to observe.

Chinese Giant Salamander The presence of this animal indicates what about the environment?

Gaboon Viper In what sense is this snake a “record holder”?

Exit the LAIR Building at the back – you will pass an outdoor enclosure, in which you will find the

Santa Catalina Side-Blotched Lizard This lizard species faces a large number of predators in its native environment. How does it compensate for this?

Now enter the Desert Lair. Inside that building, you will find the

California Kingsnake How did this species come to have the common name “kingsnake”?

Santa Catalina Island Rattlesnake How has this snake evolved to be different from other types of rattlesnakes?

Immediately after you leave the Desert Lair building, you will see an enclosure/pool on your left. In it, you will find the

Indian Gharial What is the purpose of the bulge found at the end of some of these animals’ snouts?

Now proceed to the Australia section of the Zoo. As you move through this in a counterclockwise direction, you will first encounter the

Tasmanian Devil (awesome!) What features of the devil’s anatomy demonstrate that it is a carnivore?

Double Wattled Cassowary How do these flightless birds manage to obtain their food?

Komodo Dragon Describe the diet of this reptile.

Now proceed to “Australia House,” which is at the back of the Australia section (and is open from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm). This is a “nighttime” exhibit in which the light cycles are the reverse of the outside, allowing you to see several nocturnal species, including the

Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (Yes!) How is the pouch of this marsupial pouch like that of a koala (but unlike that of most other marsupials)?

Exit the “Australia House” and complete your tour through the Australia section. When you arrive back at the main road, go left and you will see the

Tammar Wallaby Describe the reproductive behavior of this animal.

Now you will turn the corner and soon see one of the entrances to

THE CAMPO GORILLA RESERVE. THERE ARE SEVERAL ENCLOSURES HERE, SO SELECT THE ONE THAT IS BEST FOR YOUR GORILLA OBSERVATIONS (PAGE 13).

After completing your observations of the gorillas, you will travel towards the part of the zoo that is shown on the bottom left of the Zoo Map that you hopefully picked up when you entered the zoo. There are some fabulous animals here, including the

Chacoan Peccary What do these peccaries eat, and what adaptations allow them to obtain this food?

Bat-Eared Fox How does the diet of this fox differ from that of all other Canids (the family that includes dogs and foxes) species?

(If you are a lemur, then be careful as you move through this area. Here be Fossa!)

If you missed the Gorillas before, you will now be walking past another opportunity to see them.

Gerunuk Describe the adaptations which allow the gerunuk to feed on trees.

After appreciating the graceful beauty of the Gerunuks, you should turn around and proceed to the

ORANGUTAN ENCLOSURE. THIS IS WHERE YOU WILL DO YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF THE ORANGUTANS (PAGE 12).

Orangutan In contrast to the other apes, orangutans in the wild live a rather solitary life. What is the main selective pressure thought to lead to this unusual lifestyle?

Once you have finished your observations of the Orangutans, you should return to the Gerunuk area, where you will take a right turn. After passing the Lion enclosure, you will then go uphill until you have almost reached the Service Road. Before you get there, you will find an enclosure on the right, wherein you will see the

Madagascar Radiated Tortoise How have humans helped this endangered species to survive?

Ring-tailed Lemur Why is the ring-tailed lemur considered sacred?

Describe the hands and eyes of this animal (observe!).

WHILE HERE, YOU MAY WISH TO PAUSE AND OBSERVE THE RING-TAILED LEMURS, WHICH ARE AN EXAMPLE OF A PROSIMIAN (PAGE 8).

ALSO IN THIS AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE ROAD AND THE CHIMPAZEE ENCLOSURE ARE THE FOLLOWING PRIMATES (BEWARE!!! – THIS ENTIRE AREA IS RIFE WITH CUTENESS):

PROSIMIANS: RING-TALIED LEMURS, COQUERELS SIFAKAS & BLUE-EYED LEMURS

OLD WORLD MONKEYS: RED-CROWNED MANGABEYS, KIKUYU COLOBUS MONKEYS & MANDRILLS

LESSER APES: GOLDEN-CHEEKED GIBBONS

AND OF COURSE, THE CHIMPANZEES! (A VERY GREAT APE)

SOON AFTER YOU LEAVE THE CHIMPANZEE EXHIBIT, YOU WILL PASS A VARIETY OF ENCLOSURES. IN THIS AREA, YOU WILL FIND

LESSER APES: GOLDEN-CHEEKED GIBBONS AND SIAMANGS (BOTH CAN BE SEEN SHORTLY AFTER YOU PASS THE CHIMPANZEE ENCLOSURE).

OLD WORLD MONKEYS: FRANCOIS’ LANGURS

After leaving this primate-rich area, you will come to the

Hippopotamus What do hippos eat, and how do they find their food?

Tiger What is the greatest threat that tigers face today?

Now saunter on over to the

Snow Leopard List the adaptations that allow snow leopards to live in the high and cold environments they inhabit.

Aldabra Tortoise How long can this tortoise live?

YOU ARE NOW CLOSE TO THE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN OBSERVE SOME NEW WORLD MONKEYS: THE SQUIRREL MONKEY, BLACK HOWLER MONKEY, CRESTED CAPUCHIN, WHITE-FACED SAKI & AND GEOFFROY’S SPIDER MONKEY

Giant Anteater (awesome!) What adaptations make it possible for these animals to consume so many insects?

Andean Condor What does the Andean Condor eat?

You will now be near the Service Road. Turn left, and walk along until you get to the entrance of the Rainforest of the Americas exhibit. Turn right and start walking up the ramp. Eventually, you will pass the enclosure of the

Jaguar What is the origin of the jaguar’s name, and what does this word mean?

THERE IS ALSO AN ENCLOSURE WITH BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS IN THIS AREA.

Giant River Otter aka el Lobo del Rio (WARNING – cuteness may be overwhelming) Describe the hunting behavior of these animals.

The Elephants of Cambodia (area) The elephant’s trunk is an adaptation which evolved from what parts of the face?

What purpose does the trunk now serve?

Wasn’t that fun! If you have followed the instructions carefully, then you will have already completed all of your primate observations. If not, then this would be a good time to go back and do so.

You will record your observations of seven species of primates on the following pages. There is a separate sheet for each species. Begin with the general data about the group that is requested, then pick one individual and record its activities for at least 15 minutes. Describe who that individual interacts with (adult/juvenile, sex, etc.) and the nature of that interaction (grooming, play, feeding, mating, etc.). For most species, you will find the greatest variety of behaviors if you observe younger animals. 8

PROSIMIAN

Coquerel's Sifaka, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Blue-eyed Lemur

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments? 9

NEW WORLD MONKEY

Squirrel Monkey, Crested Capuchin, Geoffroy’s Spider Monkey, Black Howler Monkey (also in Rainforest of the Americas) Geoffrey’s Marmoset, Golden-lion Tamarin, White-Faced Saki (Animal Care Facility)

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments? 10

OLD WORLD MONKEY

Francois’ Langur, Kikiyu Colobus Monkey, Mandrill, Red-crowned Mangabey

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments? 11

LESSER APE

Siamang, Golden-cheeked Gibbon

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments? 12

GREAT APE

Orangutan

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments?

GREAT APE

Western Lowland Gorilla

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments?

GREAT APE

Chimpanzee

male female

infant ______provide a (rough) census juvenile ______of the group: adult ______

Individual selected: ______(e.g., adult male, juvenile female, etc.)

Behavioral Record

Minute 1:

Minute 2:

Minute 3:

Minute 4:

Minute 5:

Minute 6:

Minute 7:

Minute 8:

Minute 9:

Minute 10:

Minute 11:

Minute 12:

Minute 13:

Minute 14:

Minute 15:

Other comments?