Summer Vacation Redux #26, Denver Zoo, part 2

The next stop was the Schlessman Family Foundation Tropical Discovery complex.  This was a deceptively large facility with interior jungles, small mammals, herpetarium areas, an aquarium; open surfaced freshwater tanks and more.  In short, the sort of place that I just love to explore!  Sections feature glass roofs to allow in lots of natural light.

 A bright green Giant Waxy Tree Frog, phyllomedusa bicolor.

 The Mexican Leaf Frog, Pachymedusa dancnicolor.

 Under a leafy cabana awning and series of habitats for Poison Dart Frogs.  The most I've ever seen together at one zoo!

 Imitating Poison Dart Frog, Ranitomeya imitator.

 Splash-back Poison Dart Frog, Ranitomeya variabilis.

 Golden Poison Dart Frog, Phyllobates terribilis, which are not always Golden in color.

 Bumblebee (or Yellow-banded) Poison Dart Frog, Dendrobates leucomelas.

 In a large open-water river tank, I caught the attention of a very impressive Dow's Cichlid, Cichlasoma dovii.

 A Capaybara, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, is the world's largest rodent.

 A Black Howler Monkey, Alouatta caraya, only the males are black.  Females are this golden color.

 Here you can see the male in the branches in the background, the Capybara resting against the rock wall, and the female touching the glass divider.  I spent a little time up against the edge of it with her, and I can say that she seemed to want something that I could not provide for her.  It made me feel melancholy.

 A Many-horned Adder, Bitis cornuta, warming itself in the light.

 A gorgeous, Meller's Chameleon, Chamaeleo melleri, watches me for a while.

 Around another corner and you're in the aquarium area with both salt and freshwater offerings.

 anks to previous zoos along the route, I immediately recognize these as Upside Down Jellyfish, Cassiopea spp.

 A beautiful Honeycomb Moray Eel, Gymnothorax favagineus.  Just one of 3 different species at the zoo.

 Then this little Harlequin Tuskfish, Choerodon fasciatus, swam into the shot.

 Just beyond the Aquariums is another large open air Bayou habitat.

 Home to this Alligator Snapping Turtle, Macroclymys temminekii.  This one is actually named Bob.  And Bob has called the Denver Zoo home for the past 24 years.

 A real charmer is always the Kimodo Dragon, Varanus komodoensis.  They are, after all, the largest lizards on earth, and one of only a few species with venom in the bites.

 Even their skeletons are impressive!  A lab where visitors can from time to time watch Zoologists and Herpetologists at work.

I'll end this portion of the visit with another beautiful lizard.  This one is a Philippine Sailfin Lizard, Hydrosaurus pustulatus.  It's the first one I've ever seen and it is fascinating.  In nature, they can run across the surface of calm water!