Darren Naish Profile picture
zoologist, natural historian, author Dr Darren Naish | Dinosaurs animals evolution | Co-leader of DINOCON, coming 2025: UK's largest dinosaur-themed convention

Aug 14, 2020, 7 tweets

Me and the family went to ZSL #LondonZoo today, had a great time and saw all the #animals. Here's a short thread. Some highlights: Western lowland gorilla, Sumatran tiger, Komodo dragon, Galapagos giant tortoise...

Just a few of the literally 100s of birds at #LondonZoo: Woolly-necked stork, Northern crested caracaras (big, semi-terrestrial American falcons) and Red and yellow barbet. Barbets are members of the woodpecker group; some are close kin of toucans. #birds #animals #zoos

Some #reptiles: the remarkably yellow Cuming's water monitor, an awesome Reticulated python (cue #HarryPotter link), Big-headed turtle (able to climb, prehensile-tailed) and Rio Fuerte beaded lizard... #lizards #snakes #squamates #turtles

Some hoofstock (these are just pics taken on my phone, haven't yet downloaded my camera shots): Giraffe (retic x Rothschild's hybrids?), Pygmy hippo lounging in mud, Reeve's muntjac, babirusa... #mammals #artiodactyls #zoos

Oh, oops... There's a proposal that babirusas warrant splitting into a bunch of species (I've written about this at #TetZoo). Not sure which species these are, but most likely North Sulawesi babirusa. #mammals #artiodactyls

Some more #mammals. Hunting dogs (large, robust hunting dogs), White-naped mangabey, Hystrix porcupines (with quills flat)...

More shots of the especially restless Galapagos giant tortoise. She spent a while biting a chestnut, then ate some palm leaves, then entered the water and ate algae and duckweed. #tortoises #reptiles

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling