Fozblog

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Think Green

If you answered, C) Emerald tree boa, you are correct.The green tree python and emerald tree boa are a great example of parallel evolution. The green tree python looks and acts much like its South American relative, the emerald tree boa. However, the resemblance in appearance and behavior are nearly all the two have in common. Boas bear live young, while python species are oviparous. This means that they lay eggs that hatch outside of the body.

Green tree pythons spend much of their time coiled around branches, situated so that their head lies right in the middle of their coils, similar to a saddle laying over a branch. The vivid emerald green coloration and disruptive pattern of spots and stripes provides camouflage for these highly arboreal snakes as they rest or move through the dense vegetation in the trees.

When resting, they are virtually invisible – a useful adaptation for these patient predators. Green tree pythons hunt for small mammals, reptiles and birds.

 

Congratulations to Nikki B., in Buffalo, whose name was selected from the correct answers.

Tuesday Trivia - Think Green

Green Tree Python

Green tree pythons live in Papua, New Guinea, northern Australia and Indonesia. They live in tropical rainforests, monsoon forests, dense thickets of bamboo or vines and forest margins that contain bushes and shrubs. Newborn green tree pythons are bright yellow, orange or brick red and do not develop green coloring for 6-8 months. Adults are bright green with white or yellow underbellies. They have a white or light blue vertical stripe along the body, and white or yellow lips, chin and throat.

What other snake looks and behaves like a green tree python?

A) Rough green snake
B) Green mamba
C) Emerald tree boa

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about our green friend.

One submission per mailing address. And, we ask that each family submit only one answer, even if you are submitting answers with different email and mailing addresses.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Drum or Animal?

If you answered FALSE to this week’s Tuesday Trivia question about bongos, you are correct. Both males and females grow heavy, semi-spiraling, three- foot long horns. In order to swiftly maneuver through the dense forest vegetation, bongos tilt their chin up, causing their horns to lie flat against their back. They take this position so frequently older bongos often have bald spots on their back from the tips of their horns rubbing away the fur. Another interesting fact about the bongo is that the red-pigmentation in their coat rubs off quite easily.  Population counts are sketchy as these are very secretive animals. Even researchers who study these antelope often do not see them. Much of what is known about them comes from captive animals and studies at salt licks on the edge of forests.

 

 

Congratulations to Abigail., in Bois D'Arc, whose name was selected from the correct answers. Visit FOZBlog next week to play along with Tuesday Trivia!

Tuesday Trivia - Drum or Animal?

When many of us hear bongo, we probably think about drums. However, bongos are also animals. Bongos are the largest species of African forest-dwelling antelopes, reaching nearly 900 pounds and eight feet in length. They can be found in the forests in West, Central and East Africa. Bongos feed on high-protein vegetation including leaves, herbs, roots, twigs and fruit.

Male bongos are usually solitary, while females form herds of up to 50. Though they are clumsy and short-winded runners, they are great high jumpers. However, they prefer to go under or around obstacles and can disappear quickly in the forests.

Bongos have a bright chestnut to dark brown coat. The shape of the bongos’ horns matches the contour of their backs. When they tilt their horns on their backs, they can run through the densest forest without impediment.

True or False: Only male bongos have horns.

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about our amphibian friend.

One submission per mailing address. And, we ask that each family submit only one answer and not submit answers with different email and mailing addresses.

Tuesday Trivia - Animal Travel

It’s that time of year when many families travel for spring break. Some of us may stay local while others venture farther away to warmer climates. Animals, like humans, travel. Animals travel for a variety of reasons ranging from finding food to finding mates. Some animals travel alone; others travel in groups.

Zebras for example, travel in family units that range in size from 5-20 members. These family units join other family units to form herds. Herds may number in the thousands and often associate with wildebeest, antelope and ostriches. Zebras have a home range from 11 to 232 square miles and may cover 10 miles per day as they graze. They usually stay within five miles of a waterhole, as they must drink regularly. Their main predators are lions.

How fast can a zebra travel?
A) 5-10 mph
B) 15-20 mph   
C) 25-30 mph
D) 40+ mph

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about zebras.

One submission per email and mailing address. We ask that each family submit only one answer, even if you are submitting answers with different email and mailing addresses.

Tuesday (Wednesday) Trivia - Spring Forward!

Panamanian Golden Frog

March 10 marked the start of daylight saving time, causing us all to “spring forward.” Who else likes to spring forward? Frogs!

Dickerson Park Zoo is home to two Panamanian golden frogs. These frogs are known for their light yellowish green to bright golden skin and usually have one to several black markings on their backs and legs.

How do Panamanian Golden Frogs communicate with each other?

A) By making a whistling sound
B) By waving their hands and feet
C) By making a deep croaking sound

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Thursday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about our amphibian friend.

One submission per mailing address. And, we ask that each family submit only one answer and not submit answers with different email and mailing addresses.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Run Like the Wind

Cheetahs are built for short-distance speed, more like greyhounds than felines. A cheetah can reach speeds between 60 and 70 miles per hour for distances of approximately 300 yards before becoming exhausted. Their speed gives them an advantage when hunting prey that other big cats like lions can't.

What adapatations do cheetahs have for speed? A flexible spine and long legs (in relation to its body) for long strides, large thigh muscles and cleat-like claws for traction. (If you answered that B. slim thigh muscles is not a trait of cheetahs, you were correct.)

Once a cheetah catches its prey, it grabs the animal's throat and suffocates it. Another adapation for cheetahs is their enlarged nasal passages which allows the cat to breathe (and recover from its burst of speed) maintaining its grip on its prey.

Unfortunately for cheetahs, their kills are often stolen by opportunistic leopards, lions or hyenas - all much stronger than the cheetah.

Congratulations to Dan W., in Lebanon, whose name was selected from the correct answers. Visit FOZBlog next week to play along with Tuesday Trivia!

Tuesday Trivia - Run Like the Wind

Usain Bolt from Jamaica may be the fastest human on earth with his record-setting 100-meter dash during the 2012 Olympic Games in London, but a cheetah at Cincinnatti Zoo recently beat the Olympian's time by more than 3.5 seconds.

This week's Tuesday Trivia question explores how cheetahs are adapted for speed. Which of these traits does not contribute to a cheetah's ability to run?
    A. a flexible spine
    B. slim thigh muscles
    C. cleat-like claws
    D. long legs in relation to body size

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about cheetahs.

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

(If you or a member of your family has won once this year, please let others have an opportunity to win. One submission per mailing address. And, we ask that each family submit only one answer, even if you are submitting answers with different email and mailing addresses.)

Tuesday Trivia - Hop on By

Dickerson Park Zoo is home to a "mob" of red kangaroos. The scientific name for this species is Macropus rufus. This week's Tuesday Trivia question tests your language knowledge. What does "macropus" literally translate as?

A. Big tail
B. Big foot
C. Big body
D. Big jump

Email your answer to trivia@dickersonparkzoo.org by Wednesday at noon for your chance to win a pair of one day passes to Dickerson Park Zoo! Remember to include your mailing address in the email for your chance to win.

(If you have already won once this year, please let others have an opportunity to win. One submission per mailing address. And, we ask that each family submit only one answer, even if you are submitting answers with different email and mailing addresses.)

Visit FOZblog on Wednesday for the correct answer and more information about this week's mystery animal.

Tuesday Trivia Answer - Who "Nose"?

This week's Tuesday Trivia was a little more difficult. If you think the nose belongs to a bongo, you are correct.

Bongos are timid forest antelopes from West, Central and East Africa. We have eastern bongo at Dickerson Park Zoo. According to the International Bongo Foundation's website, the Antelope Specialist Group has suggested that the eastern bongo population in human care may be equal to or exceed the wild population.

Bongos are chestnut-colored with vertical white or cream stripes. This coloring likely helps as camoflauge in the forest. They are the largest and heaviest forest antelope and can run well through the forest undergrowth if threatened.

Bongos are unique among the Tragelaphus genus in that both males (bulls) and females (cows) have horns. This animal genus also includes greater and lesser kudus, bushbucks, nayalas and elands.

Next week, Tuesday Trivia goes on vacation for the Fourth of July holiday. Join us again for the fun on July 10!

Congratulations to Janna White from Mt. Vernon, whose name was randomly drawn from those submitting the correct answer this week!