Museum of Living Art - Conservation Focus Species

LEGEND:

+ Indicates that the species is new to the Fort Worth Zoo
CR Indicates that the species is critically endangered
E Indicates that the species is endangered
V Indicates that the species is vulnerable
TTX Indicates that the species is threatened in Texas

Puerto Rican crested toad CR (Peltophryne lemur)   One of the Fort Worth Zoo's premier conservation projects involves the threatened Puerto Rican crested toad. Native to tiny, remote area in Puerto Rico, these crested toads have textured, pebbled skin with striking marbled golden eyes. Males are olive green and gold, and females are dull brown. The size of the average female is 4 inches; males average at 3 inches. In the wild, Puerto Rican crested toads eat insects, worms, larvae and other invertebrates. In captivity, they eat crickets. Puerto Rican crested toads are nocturnal. Once thought to be extinct, captive breeding programs have helped reintroduce the species.

Spring salamander +,CR, TTX (Eurycea sp.)   These long-legged salamanders have tiny eyes, and can be a variety of muted colors, with salt-and-pepper mottling on their backs. Red external gills color their body. They are entirely aquatic, and only occur at spring outflows. It is believed that the salamanders were primarily surface-dwellers but have adapted to underwater living because of unsuitable conditions. Many of these salamander species are restricted to single locations.

Chiricahua leopard frog V (Rana chiricahuensis)   The Chiricahua leopard frog is a medium-to-large sized frog growing to be between 2.1 and 5.4 inches in length. They are stout in stature compared to other leopard frogs, closely resembling bullfrogs. They are typically dark green with grey spots and are sexually dimorphic. The Fort Worth Zoo's efforts toward this species include a potential reintroduction project.

Annam leaf turtle CR (Mauremys annamensis)   The Annam leaf turtle is a small aquatic turtle usually seen at the bottom of lakes and swamps. They hide themselves in thick vegetation, hence the name leaf turtle. They are mostly grey in color, with small decorative markings. These turtles are in great decline due to over collection for the Asian food markets.

Utila Island iguana CR (Ctenosaura bakeri)   These rare black iguanas are from the small island of Utila, located near the north coast of Honduras. They live mostly in mature trees in mangroves and are nicknamed "swampers" due to their marshy preference. However, because eggs cannot be successfully laid in the mangroves, females must have access to sand in order to lay eggs. The Fort Worth Zoo is one of two zoos in the United Sates working with this species.

Houston toad +, CR, TTX (Bufo houstonensis)   These toads exist largely in Houston and around Bastrop county. They live primarily on land, burrowing in sandy loose soil during inclement weather. Growing between 2 and 3 1/2 inches long, they are warty, and have color varying from light brown to purplish gray with dark green patches. They have a unique mating call   a high pitched trill which lasts 14 seconds. Listed as endangered, these toads are native to only 12 counties in Texas. The Zoo recently awarded a grant from its Arthur A. Seeligson Conservation Fund for efforts toward saving this species.

Chinese three-striped box turtle CR (Cupra Trifasciata)   These relatively small turtles have three distinctive black stripes down their shell. Unlike most turtles this species is almost entirely carnivorous. They are semi-aquatic, and some believe they possess cancer-curing agents.

Grand Cayman blue iguana CR (Cyclura lewisi)   This species is found only on Grand Cayman Island, a small island in the British West Indies. During mating season, hormones color the males a bright, electric blue and the females a muted powder blue. They prefer rocky terrain and have suffered from habitat loss, lending to their critically endangered status.

Malayan painted river turtle CR (Callagur borneoensis)   Most commonly known as a river terrapin, these soft-shelled turtles have a pig-like snout. Another distinctive marking is the three longitudinal stripes down their back. They are found mostly in Malaysia, but smaller concentrations are also seen in Thailand and Indonesia. They are critically endangered mainly due to poaching and trade.