We have around 40 different species of animal in Plantasia with over 10% of those having some conservation concern. The most notable of these being the Egyptian Tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni).
Plantasia participates in the EEP (European Endangered Species Programme) for Egyptian tortoises and collaborates with a variety of other zoological institutions for the protection and conservation of the species.
Here at Plantasia, we also breed a number of vulnerable and endangered species which include reptiles (Crested gecko), amphibians (Axolotl) and fish (Denison’s barb). Come and see some of our cute rainforest animals at Plantasia!
Axolotl
FOREVER YOUNG!Our Axolotl is a type of Salamander. They don’t metamorph so don’t grow into adulthood, they stay looking young for the rest of their life. If they did, they would look like Tiger Salamanders but with spots instead of stripes.
- DISTRIBUTION: Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco near Mexico City
- BELOW GROUND
Parrots
LITTER BUGMacaws are good for the forest, they’re messy eaters and drop a lot of seed on the ground – spreading the seed throughout the forest, helping to grow new plants.
SAY HELLO
Parrots are extraordinarily intelligent birds, if you say hello, they might just say hello back!
- DISTRIBUTION: South and Central America
- CANOPY
Marmosets
TWINSUnusually, Marmosets are one of the only mammal species that almost always give birth to Twins!
- DISTRIBUTION: Brasil and South America
- CANOPY
Leopard Cats
MINI HUNTERSOur Leopard Cat Nala, has all the characteristics and looks of a deadly Leopard, but is only the size of a house cat. Definitely cute, but definitely deadly!
- DISTRIBUTION: Continental South, Southeast and East Asia
- CANOPY
Meerkats
HEADS-UP!Imagine living with 50 brothers and sisters! Meerkats live in huge family gangs in dusty burrows underground. Pop up into their burrow to get nose to nose with the family!
- DISTRIBUTION: Deserts and Grasslands of Africa
- ARID CLIMATE
Caiman Crocodiles
BITE ME!These tough crocodiles have few natural predators so are amongst the top of the rainforest food chain.
Watch out! Adult crocs have the strongest bite ever measured… an enormous 16,460 Newtons of bite force. A Lion only has 1,314.7!
SHUT IT!
But, a croc’s muscles to open the jaw are weak so a human can use their bare hands to keep Crocodiles mouths shut.
- DISTRIBUTION: Central & South America
- THE WATERING HOLE
Burmese Python
SQUEEZE!Clyde our Burmese Python is the 4th largest snake by weight or length. Unfortunately, he is also an invasive species in the Florida Everglades.
- DISTRIBUTION: Southern and South-East Asia
- FOREST FLOOR
Creepy Crawlies
A BUGS LIFE!- Scorpion
- Giant African Land Snails
- Assassin Bugs
- Madagascan Hissing Cockroach
- Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
- and more!
- BELOW GROUND
Piranhas
JAWS!Speedy, powerful jaws and super sharp teeth – the Red Bellied Piranha is simply terrifying. A hungry piranha in its habitat of rivers and mangroves will bite almost anything, including humans! But attacks from these colourful carnivores are rarely lethal. They’re efficient scavengers, feeding on wounded animals or other fish.
They live in groups called “schools” and a large school of piranha can be a moving menace!.
- DISTRIBUTION: Orinoco and Amazon Basins to Parana and La Plata rivers
- BELOW GROUND