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Bronx Zoo.
But thats part of how they got the job; the
society wanted seasoned pros.
Its a new species and a new exhibit,
said Jim Breheny, the societys executive vice
president for zoos and aquariums. Thats
why were sending Betty and Veronica down
there. Theyre really solid, theyre responsive
animals, they really like each other, have great
relationships with their keepers. And theyre
beautiful.
In 1936, a new Reptile House opened, and it continues to delight and awe visitors today. A stroll around its perimeter
allows you to safely view an amazing collection of pythons, cobras, boas, rattlesnakes, king cobras, and rinkhals, which
are true spitting cobras that also play dead. Because youre on the outside looking in, youre not bothered by the heat
and humidity required to maintain some of our snakes. Each enclosure is designed to look like the residents natural
home. Youngsters proudly point out to their parents which snakes are venomouswith the help of a red dot on the
appropriate signs! Some corners of the House feature the giants of the snake world: anacondas and pythons.
There are other areas of the Zoo where snakes can be seen, too. Our Elephant Odyssey is home to a variety of rattlesnakes
that are native to the San Diego County region, including the largest rattler in our area, the red diamond rattlesnake.
Lost Forest features snakes native to rain forest areas. We have the beautiful and rarely seen Mang Mountain vipers,
which can be seen in the Zoos Panda Trek as they share habitat with the popular bamboo bears. A few of our snakes
make appearances in animal presentations, giving guests an opportunity to touch these unique creatures.
Kids Corner
What Makes a Mammal?
There are more than 4,000 different species of mammals. The smallest is the hognosed bat, which weighs 0.05 ounces. The
largest is the blue whale, which can be 100
feet long and weigh 150 tons. But whether
they live on land or water, all mammals
share some common characteristics.
All mammals:
Are vertebrates (which means they have a
backbone or spine).
Are endothermic. Also known as
warm-blooded, endothermic animals
regulate their own body temperate which
allows them to live in almost every climate
on Earth.
Have hair on their bodies.
Produce milk to feed their babies. This
allows them to spend more time with their
young and teach them important skills they
need to survive on their own.