Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

If you live in Florida, you may spot some parakeets at your back-yard feeder. They are descendants of house pets which have been set loose and gone wild. Albeit invasive, at least parakeets are colorful and cute. The rest of the world calls them budgies, by the way. [2018]

Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Crocodilia is the ghariel, whose snout is uniquely adapted to eating fish. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent. Ghariels are the largest of the crocodilians. [2011]

Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Squamata, genus Varanus (monitor lizards), is the perentie, which can grow up to 8 feet long. It is a native of Australia, a carnivore, and a top predator. [2019]

Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

Representing the Reptilian order of Squamata, suborder Serpentes (snakes), is the puff adder, so named because it puffs up when threatened. It is a native of Africa, where it may be the most widespread snake on the continent. [2020]

Topeka, Kansas, USA

Representivng the Reptilian order of Testudines is the red-footed tortoise. They are native to South America. The red-footed tortoise is classified as vulnerable primarily because it is hunted for both food and the pet trade. [2021]
 

Mandai, Republic of Singapore

February is all about the number two, and 2/22 is a palindrome too! What do we put in bottles? Let's hope it is not anything alive. "Yellow-crested cockatoos are poached for the illegal pet trade. Stuffed into plastic bottles and smuggled. 2 out of 5 don't survive." That's one of many things you can learn  by visiting a zoo! Be sure to see yesterday's post. [2016]

Beemerville, New Jersey, USA

Odds and Evens, Ones and Twos, Singles and Doubles, Which one be You? Here is another single animal with two names: The cuter ones, like this guy, are woodchucks. All others are groundhogs. The setting: a private zoo in northern New Jersey. [2018]

Apple Valley, Minnesota, USA

Odds and Evens, Ones and Twos, Singles and Doubles, Which one be You? Here is a single animal with two names. In North America it is a caribou, but in Europe it is a reindeer. The setting: the Minnesota Zoo, one of the best for seeing creatures of the upper middle and high latitudes. [2021]

Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA

Odds and Evens, Ones and Twos, Singles and Doubles, Which one be You? Here are two Grant's zebras grazing and bonding, and maybe grooming later. The setting: the Idaho Falls Zoo as a stand-in for the African savannah. [2020]

Kingwood, West Virginia, USA

Odds and Evens, Ones and Twos, Singles and Doubles, Which one be You? Here is one llama who seems to be going it alone even though llamas are pack animals. The setting: a private zoo in the mountains of West Virginia. Actually, this llama has plenty of companions. They are just off tending to visitors. [2021]

Kingwood, West Virginia, USA

The bipeds (four of them: count the feet) are feeding the quadruped (count the paws). Lucky kids: They get to see the species that has inspired so many stories and cartoons. Poor bear: He has nothing to do but pad around his cage and wait for food to tumble down that oblique green tube into his lair. [2021]

Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Feeling sleepy? Whether for a nap or a full night's sleep, wouldn't it be nice to just hollow out a pit and make it your bed no matter where you happened to end up? Such grizzly habits might represent the ultimate in becoming a minimalist, a lifestyle being championed by many millennials. [2020]

Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA

Remember "those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer" when you felt like he looks? Remember those days of hot dogs and pretzels and beer? Thanks Nat King Cole for giving us a lens (now almost six decades old) through which to see the world. [2018]

New York, New York, USA

What does the Central Park Zoo want you to know about the Red Panda? The Red Panda has a masked face and a ringed tail resembling that of a raccoon. This mild-mannered animal defends its territory by standing on its hind legs and using its sharp claws. If that doesn't work, the panda can release a strong odor from scent glands at the base of the tail. [2018]

Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

What does ZooAmerica want you to know about the porcupine? A porcupine has no need to be quick since their barbed quills keep almost all predators away. About 30,000 quills cover the animal's body. When threatened, the porcupine turns its back and raises its quills. A porcupine cannot "shoot" its quills, but a flick of the tail can drive them into an attacker. [2019]

Bismarck, North Dakota, USA

What does the Dakota Zoo want you to know about the North American River Otter? ”Nature’s clown” is often observed sliding, swimming, jumping and playing with other otters. Once common in many North Dakota waterways, they were wiped out in the early years of the fur trade. Now, they are making a comeback in the state. [2021]

Bucharest, Romania

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Zoos: Flamingos, peacocks, penguins, and pelicans are centers of attention at almost every zoo. These Dalmatian Pelicans, vulnerable as a species, are among the largest birds alive. Put them on your must-see list for your next zoo visit. Geographically Yours has been to 48 zoos around the world. [2014]

Tucson, Arizona, USA

In the Low Latitudes of the Western Hemisphere you might see a Baird's tapir. The Low Latitudes extend from 30 degrees N to 30 degrees S. Like so many other mammals, though, you better go see it now. It's classified as Vulnerable because of widespread poaching and habitat loss. [2018]

Ashboro, North Carolina, USA

In the Middle Latitudes of the Western Hemisphere you might see a plains bison. The Middle Latitudes extend from 30 degrees N to 60 degrees N, and from 30 degrees S to 60 degrees S. The plains bison, however, lives only in the Northern Hemisphere, and its range is microscopic compared to only a hundred years ago. [2019]

Columbia, South Carolina, USA

In the High Latitudes of the Western Hemisphere you might see a sea lion. The High Latitudes extend from 60 degrees N to 90 degrees N, and from 60 degrees S to 90 degrees S. If your pinniped sighting is not in the High Latitudes, you are probably looking at a coastline affected by an offshore cold current.[2020]