What's New

WHAT'S NEW

Births, Hatchings, Acquisitions

By Donna Bear, Curator of Species Management, and Jasmine Alvarado, Species Management Officer

Greater Kudu

(Tragelaphus strepsiceros)

The greater kudu is the tallest of the African antelopes. Depending on the subspecies, greater kudu can be found in different regions throughout Africa such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The most prominent feature of the greater kudu is its horns. The average straightline length of a male kudu’s horn is 35 inches long. Including the curves, their horns can reach up to 51 inches, almost the width of a full-size bed. A male’s age can be determined based on the number of spirals in the horns. At two years, he will have one full spiral and at four or four and a half years, he will have at least two full spirals. In the wild, the greater kudu can live from seven to 15 years of age. In captivity, they can live up to 23 years. The Zoo has been housing kudus since 1976. While greater kudu is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, their population is still threatened by poaching, human encroachment, habitat modifications, excessive cattle grazing and disease transmission from cattle.

PHOTOS: JOHN REED

Guianan Squirrel Monkey

(Saimiri sciureus)

The Guianan squirrel monkey is just one of seven species of squirrel monkey. As the name suggests, the Guianan squirrel monkeys’ geographic distribution ranges from the French Guiana to northern Brazil, above the Amazon River. The species are distinguished from each other by their coloring and markings. Guianan squirrel monkeys are generally grayish/greenish to reddish agouti (meaning the same hair strand displays more than one color). Depending on the subspecies of squirrel monkey, their limbs and hands can be more yellowish orange. In the wild, squirrel monkeys are primarily insectivores and frugivores. But when insects or fruit are scarce, they will eat flowers, spiders, lizards and even bird eggs. The Zoo received its first squirrel monkeys back in 1972.

WILD MAGAZINE • SPRING 2022 • JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS 9

Florida ivory millipede

(Chicobolus spinigerus)

The Florida ivory millipede—a brand-new species for the Zoo—is just one of the 50 species of millipede native to Florida. With a dark color on the top and light-colored underbelly and legs, ivory millipedes can grow up to three and a half inches—that’s longer than a credit card! While often sold as household pets, they do more than just roll into a ball when frightened.

When threatened, ivory millipedes secrete a toxin called hydrogen cyanide, a chemical that can burn the skin or cause an allergic reaction. But there’s no need to worry about any of that if you are gentle when holding them. The millipedes are used in our education programs.

April–June 2021

Births & Hatchings

Cownose Ray............................................................................1.0 Giraffe........................................................................................1.2 Greater Kudu............................................................................0.1 Guianan Squirrel Monkey...................................................0.0.1 Gulf Coast Waterdog ........................................................0.0.68 Striped Newt .................................................................... 0.0.235

Acquisitions

Florida Ivory Millipedes * ..................................................0.0.15FLORIDA MANATEE ................................................................0.2

LEGEND: 0.1.2

• First digit male. Second digit female

• Third digit sex unknown

• Two digits only represent male and female

• CAPS = Endangered Species

• * (Asterisk) = First time at the Zoo

• †(Dagger) = Released back into the wild

10 WILD MAGAZINE • SPRING 2022 • JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS