Coastal/Aquatic Species Analysis

[DarthQuell]

In a discussion of aquatic species with @NZFanatic, it made me think of what aquatic/coastal species we have in-game that would help to make an aquatic zoological park and what could potentially be added. Feel free to discuss ideas and thoughts y'all...

So, our current roster for aquatic animals are (in order of release):

1. Grizzly bear
2. Formosan black bear
3. Bengal tiger
4. Siberian tiger
5. Saltwater crocodile
6. Gharial
7. Polar bear
8. Jaguar
9. King penguin
10. Grey seal
11. Cuvier's dwarf caiman
12. Giant otter
13. Sun bear
14. African penguin
15. American alligator
16. North American beaver
17. California sea lion
18. Spectacled caiman
19. Asian small clawed otter

Not a bad roster, right?
But at the same time, some don't scream AQUATIC PARK, amiright? Like, I wouldn't think of any of the bears, besides the polar bear, as candidates. Which brings the next question: using the current mechanics, no new mechanics, what would be ideal choices for a potential "sea world" DLC?

 

[NZFanatic]

West Indian manatee, sea otter, walrus, probably a few more seals/sea lions, and if we're talking specifically a marine park, then fish of various stripes of course.

As far as cetaceans go, if I was to ignore my personal feelings on the matter, and ignore the controversey, then the appropriate contenders would probably be beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins, maybe harbour porpoise too. Keep the orca, pilot whales and false killer whales out.

 

[HunterIsCookie]

West Indian manatee, sea otter, walrus, probably a few more seals/sea lions, and if we're talking specifically a marine park, then fish of various stripes of course.

As far as cetaceans go, if I was to ignore my personal feelings on the matter, and ignore the controversey, then the appropriate contenders would probably be beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins, maybe harbour porpoise too. Keep the orca, pilot whales and false killer whales out.

Pretty much my thoughts, though I'd personally add a sea turtle to the additions. Also more seabirds like pelicans, penguins, puffins and even gannets maybe could work.

 

[NZFanatic]

Also more seabirds like pelicans, penguins, puffins and even gannets maybe could work.

Doy. Why didn't I think to mention that? Pelican is my second-most-wanted bird right now, behind the kiwi, and of course penguins. All the penguins, please.

Are there gannets in captivity?

Actually, what seabirds are in captivity globally? I only know of the ones in NZ - New Zealand dotterels (rescue and release), pied oystercatchers, and spotted shags.

 

[HunterIsCookie]

Doy. Why didn't I think to mention that? Pelican is my second-most-wanted bird right now, behind the kiwi, and of course penguins. All the penguins, please.

Are there gannets in captivity?

Actually, what seabirds are in captivity globally? I only know of the ones in NZ - New Zealand dotterels (rescue and release), pied oystercatchers, and spotted shags.

Northern Gannets are kept open-air at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, although I don't know the details, just that someone in a discord server sent photos, and I don't know if they're anywhere else (I'd assume they are).
I'm not sure what seabirds are kept "globally" aside from your pelicans and penguins n stuff though, so we could probably just benefit from getting some unique species instead.

 

[DarthQuell]

I've seen seagulls in captivity, too. The coast's pigeon...

 

[Cynogale bennettii II]

In terms of some types of seabirds:

Gannets - Most zoos that keep gannets in Europe do so in open-air enclosures with flight-restricted birds - some keep theirs in with penguins. I'm not sure I'd want to see them as habitat animals though, as I've seen them in the wild many times and when they aren't nesting they spend most of their lives on the wing.

Wading birds - Here in Europe, probably the most common wader is the pied avocet, although there are lots of potential options - curlews, oystercatchers, lapwings and godwits are all kept and are fairly large as waders go.

Albatrosses - The only albatrosses in captivity that I know of are a pair of unreleasable rescue Laysan albatrosses at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

As for fishes, what I would want from habitat fish are species that can be mixed with animals already in-game and are used to add interest to underwater viewing areas. Some examples could be the arapaima, pacu, ocellate river stingray and red-tailed catfish (mixed with dwarf caiman, capybara and hypothetical manatees), paroon shark catfish (kept in the moats of orangutan islands and even mixed with small-clawed otters at Disney's Animal Kingdom) and leopard shark (San Diego keep them in a mix with African penguins).

Sep. 2019 - Africa Rocks - African Penguin/Leopard Shark Tank - ZooChat

www.zoochat.com

 

[NZFanatic]

Gannets - Most zoos that keep gannets in Europe do so in open-air enclosures with flight-restricted birds - some keep theirs in with penguins. I'm not sure I'd want to see them as habitat animals though, as I've seen them in the wild many times and when they aren't nesting they spend most of their lives on the wing.

I totally agree with your opinion on the gannet as a habitat animal, but man I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted by the thought of mixing them with penguins.

 

[SalamAnders]

Northern Gannets are kept open-air at Artis Zoo in Amsterdam

Don't know if anything changed since, but I was there the latest last year. They aren't kept open air but in an a rather weirdly shaped aviary with Africa penguins. I could imagine it could look open air from the right angles.

Edit: I can find old pictures of the same enclosure online where it looks open air, with the same species. So I guess the mesh is a never addition.

 

[SpookDoc]

Outside of the species already mentioned, other “common” aquatic to semi-aquatic animals in captivity include large freshwater turtles and medium to small shore birds. Alligator Snapping Turtle is probably the most iconic, large freshwater turtle. Other large commonly held species include the Pig-nosed Turtle, Arrau River Turtle, and numerous softshell species. As for small shorebirds, there are plenty of species that are largely terrestrial and would be great additions in mixed species habitats. A Jacana species, with their otherworldly yet iconic, massive splayed feet, would be a great inclusion for tropical areas. And as for the more temperate coasts, a plover, snipe, avocet, auklet, or oystercatcher species would be great.

Another fun yet more terrestrial group (maybe making them slightly more feasible with PZ’s current mechanics) of larger seabirds are the boobys. There’s also the heron, egret, stork, loon, and cormorant groups that offer numerous colorful and unique species. Nevermind the often mentioned waterfowl groups of ducks, geese, and swans. So many birds, so little time. Sigh.

Also controversial picks, but a Marine Iguana or even Caiman Lizard would be fun aquatic, large reptiles.