Meet Exotic Animals in the UK

Axolotls are 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.

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.

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!

Macaws 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!

Oscar, our Green Iguana, is a large, herbivorous lizard – a species that originates from southern Brazil to Mexico. Growing up to 1.7 meters long, this arboreal species is also known as the American iguana and comes in various colours and types.

Clyde our Burmese Python is the 4th largest snake by weight or length. Unfortunately, he is also an invasive species in the Florida Everglades.

Our 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!

Haku, our Asian Water Monitor is a large lizard found in the wild near water in Asia. They are excellent swimmers, inhabiting rivers, swamps, and forests. Their diet includes fish, frogs, and small mammals, helping keep the environment clean by eating decaying flesh.

The Philippine Sailfin Lizard, has a sail-like crest on its tail and grows up to 3-4 feet long. Also known as Sailfin Dragons, they are excellent swimmers, that live near water and eat plants, fruits, insects, and crustaceans. Discover Phillis’ story on how she came to Plantasia Tropical Zoo on your next visit.

• Giant African Land Snails
• Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches
• Goliath Birdeater Tarantula
• Chilean & Red Knee Tarantulas
• Flower Beetles
• Sun beetles
• and more!

With up to 400 legs, these gentle giants are among the largest millipedes in the world.

Native to parts of East Africa, Giant African Millipedes are detritivores, feeding on decaying leaves and plant matter. By breaking down dead material, they help recycle nutrients back into the soil.

When threatened, they curl into a tight spiral and can release a mild defensive secretion to deter predators.

These giant insects don’t chirp or buzz… they hiss!

Native to Madagascar, these cockroaches produce their famous hissing sound by forcing air through tiny breathing holes called spiracles. They hiss to scare off predators and during battles between males.

• Fire-bellied Toads
• Poison Dart Frogs
• Mangrove Snake
• Salmon-pink bird-eater tarantula
• Assassin bugs
• Asian forest scorpion
• Garter snakes
• and more!

Gliding through the water in flashes of gold, white, orange and black, Koi Carp are often called “living jewels”.

Koi are ornamental varieties of the common carp, originally bred in Japan for their striking colours and patterns. Each fish has unique markings, making no two exactly alike. In Japanese culture, koi symbolise perseverance and good fortune.

Although peaceful and graceful, they are powerful swimmers and can grow surprisingly large with the right conditions.

Don’t let the relaxed pace fool you — these colourful tortoises are built for life in the rainforest.

Native to northern South America, Red-footed Tortoises live in warm forests and savannahs where they forage for fallen fruit, flowers, fungi and leafy plants. Unlike many tortoise species, they are omnivorous and will occasionally eat insects or carrion.

Their name comes from the bright red, orange or yellow scales on their legs and head — each individual’s markings are slightly different.

Once thought to be extinct in the wild, this striking bird is one of the rarest pheasants on Earth.

Native to the lowland forests of central Vietnam, Edward’s Pheasant suffered dramatic declines due to habitat loss and hunting. For many years, there were no confirmed wild sightings, and the species is now listed as Critically Endangered. Conservation breeding programmes across the world are working to safeguard its future.

The Lau Banded Iguana, adorned with short crests and white or blue bands, forages and basks during the day, retreating to treetops at night. As herbivores, they eat leaves, fruit, and flowers, using their long tails for balance while climbing.

Manyara Tilapia have short snouts and small eyes. Males turn pink when breeding. They are crucial to their ecosystem but face threats from overfishing and invasive species. They practice mouthbrooding, carrying eggs in their mouths until hatching.

The white-cheeked turaco stands out with its vibrant green feathers, white face, and red beak. Notably, its red feathers can turn water pink when stirred into it.

Red-eared sliders, slide from rocks into water. Commonly invasive in Europe, Australia, and India due to pet abandonment, their shells are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails and hair!

The Egyptian Tortoise, or Kleinmann’s Tortoise, is the second smallest tortoise species and faces extinction. Found in deserts, it eats plants but is threatened by capture for the pet trade. It is the smallest tortoise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Read all about our Egyptian Tortoise on our blog!

The Panther Chameleon is vibrant and can change colour to express emotions and defend its territory. Males are larger and more colourful. Their long tongues catch insects, and their eyes move independently for a 360-degree view.

The Rio Fuerte Beaded Lizard, has black and yellow bands. It primarily eats eggs and small animals. One of only two venomous lizards, its venom is used in medicine. It is protected due to its rarity.

The Crested Gecko was rediscovered in 1994 after being thought extinct. Measuring 8-10 inches long, it has hair-like projections above its eyes that look like eyelashes, and licks them clean. It can shed its tail to escape predators.