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Zoological Park (zoological + park)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Life Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Great EscApe: the great ape facility at Oklahoma City Zoological Park

INTERNATIONAL ZOO YEARBOOK, Issue 1 2000
J. GRISHAM
On 31 July 1993, after nearly 4 years of design and construction, Oklahoma City Zoological Park opened Great EscApe, a state-of-the-art exhibit for the maintenance and conservation of three species of great ape: Western lowland gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Sumatran orang-utan Pongo pygmaeus abelii and Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes. The 2,6 ha enclosure comprises a large support facility, four spacious outdoor exhibit areas, two visitor centres, a children's activity loop, an open-air pavilion and a research station. In addition, Great EscApe provides an educational experience for visitors covering all facets of great ape biology and the conservation challenges which these species present. Extensive landscaping with plants, many of which simulate the natural surroundings of the apes, was utilized throughout the exhibit. [source]

The phylogeny of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens): evidence from the forelimb

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 6 2009
Rebecca E. Fisher
Abstract Within the order Carnivora, the phylogeny of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is contentious, with morphological and molecular studies supporting a wide range of possible relationships, including close ties to procyonids, ursids, mustelids and mephitids. This study provides additional morphological data, including muscle maps, for the forelimb of Ailurus, based on the dissection of four cadavers from the National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA. The red panda forelimb is characterized by a number of primitive features, including the lack of m. rhomboideus profundus, a humeral insertion for m. cleidobrachialis, the presence of mm. brachioradialis, articularis humeri and coracobrachialis, a single muscle belly for m. extensor digitorum lateralis with tendons to digits III,V, four mm. lumbricales, and the presence of mm. flexor digitorum brevis manus, adductores digiti I, II and V, and abductor digiti I and V. Red pandas resemble Ailuropoda, mustelids and some procyonids in possessing a soft tissue origin of m. flexor digitorum superficialis. In addition, red pandas are similar to ursids and procyonids in having a variable presence of m. biceps brachii caput breve. Furthermore, Ailurus and some ursids lack m. rhomboideus capitis. The forelimb muscle maps from this study represent a valuable resource for analyzing the functional anatomy of fossil ailurids and some notes on the Miocene ailurid, Simocyon batalleri, are presented. [source]

The phylogeny of the red panda (Ailurus fulgens): evidence from the hindlimb

JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 5 2008
Rebecca E. Fisher
Abstract The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) is an endangered carnivore living in the temperate forests of the Himalayas and southern China. The phylogeny of the red panda has been the subject of much debate. Morphological and molecular studies have supported a wide range of possible relationships, including close ties to procyonids, ursids, mustelids, and mephitids. This study provides additional morphological data, including muscle maps, for Ailurus. The hindlimbs of four cadavers from the National Zoological Park were dissected. Red pandas retain a number of muscles lost in other carnivore groups, including muscles and tendons related to their robust and weight-bearing hallux. Three features, including a single-bellied m. sartorius, a proximal insertion for m. abductor digiti V, and an absent m. articularis coxae, are found in all terrestrial arctoids, including Ailurus. In addition, red pandas are similar to ursids and canids in lacking a caudal belly of m. semitendinosus, while they resemble procyonids and mustelids in the degree of fusion observed between mm. gluteus medius and piriformis. Furthermore, Ailurus and procyonids are characterized by numerous subdivisions within the adductor compartment, while red pandas and raccoons share a variable m. semimembranosus, composed of one, two, or three bellies. Lastly, a deep plantar muscle inserting onto the metatarsophalangeal joint of the hallux is described for Ailurus. This muscle has not been previously described and is given the name m. flexor hallucis profundus. Additional dissections of the forelimb and axial musculature of red pandas may shed further light on the phylogeny of this species. In addition, the muscle maps presented here offer a valuable resource for interpreting the functional anatomy of fossil ailurids. [source]

Molecular Reproduction & Development: Volume 77, Issue 5

MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2010
Article first published online: 23 MAR 2010
Clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) male cub born at the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park. Rampant habitat loss in Southeast Asia and poaching are threatening the clouded leopard population. Successful breeding programs (for future reintroductions) have benefited from basic reproductive studies conducted in this species for several years (see Wildt et al., this issue). (Photo courtesy of Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoological Park). [source]

Behavioral effects of introducing pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor) to black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) and white-faced saki (Pithecia pithecia) in a zoological park

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2008
Lydia Gentry
Abstract Mixed-species primate exhibits are becoming more common in zoological parks as a means to display a diverse array of animals both more naturalistically and with more economy of space. Here, we describe behavioral changes during the introduction process of a pair of pied tamarins (Saguinus bicolor) to an established group of black howler monkeys (Allouatta caraya) and white-faced saki monkeys (Pithecia pithecia). Data were collected during six phases, representing introductions among the various species and to exhibit space and off-exhibit holding. The pied tamarins were consistently the most active of the three species. Although activity levels of the howler and saki monkeys remained constant throughout, that of the tamarins declined as the introduction progressed. Several episodes of aggression between the tamarins and the sakis were observed, but did not coincide with patterns predicted by previous intra-specific introductions. The three-species mix remained stable for several months; however, escalating aggression ultimately led to the removal of the sakis from the mixed-species exhibit. Despite our mixed results, we contend that only through continued trials, coupled with careful and systematic monitoring, can we ultimately identify stable mixes of species. Am. J. Primatol. 70:505,509, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]