My other seven top species, again arranged in alphabetical order:
Pacarana
Morphology: 2 – A rodent quite unlike any we currently have in the game
Biome: 2 – Occurs mostly in high-altitude habitat, unlike any other habitat rodent
Distribution: 2 – Is found in the Andes, again with no in-game habitat rodent
Conservation: 0 – Least Concern
Popularity: 1 – Subject to a viral video, but it was misidentified as a rat
Visual appeal: 2 – Attractively patterned and with a very charismatic and affable personality
Rarity in zoos: 0 – Formerly found in Europe and North America, now only kept in zoos in its native range
Total score – 9 out of 14
Parma wallaby
Morphology: 1/2? – A macropod similar in body form to red kangaroo, but shrunk to a tenth of the size
Biome: 2 – Endemic to temperate biome, unlike any other marsupial (or indeed habitat animal) in-game
Distribution: 0/1? – Shares range with other marsupials like koala and wombat, but not with red kangaroo
Conservation: 0 – Near Threatened
Popularity: 1/2? – Identifiable as a wallaby, although the exact species may be unfamiliar
Visual appeal: 2 – Being the smallest macropod, they are often seen as being very cute
Rarity in zoos: 2 – Common in Europe and Australia, also present in North America
Total score – 8-11 out of 14
Southern ground hornbill
Morphology: 2 – Nothing else quite like a ground hornbill appears in the game
Biome: 0 – Endemic to grassland biome, shared with common ostrich
Distribution: 0 – Occurs in Southern and Eastern Africa, in basically the same range as common ostrich
Conservation: 1 – Vulnerable
Popularity: 1 – A charismatic bird, part of the Kruger’s Bird Big 6, but not immediately obvious
Visual appeal: 2 – The mostly sombre dark plumage is offset by the colourful throat pouch and long eyelashes
Rarity in zoos: 2 – Commonly kept in zoos around the world
Total score – 8 out of 14
Striped hyena
Morphology: 1 - Similar to spotted hyena, but will many differences (the mane, smaller size etc.) that would make it feel less similar
Biome: 1 - Occurs in grassland habitat like the spotted hyena, but has a much broader biome tolerance (desert and temperate definitely, maybe also tropical)
Distribution: 1 - Does overlap partially with spotted hyena, but in many areas (including Asia) it is the only hyena species
Conservation: 0 - Near Threatened
Popularity: 1 - Known to people, but generally speaking they don't have positive feelings towards these animals
Visual appeal: 0/1? - Remember reading that people found the striped hyena at San Diego Zoo attractive until they learned what it was, then it was immediately seen as ugly
Rarity in zoos: 2 - Found in European, North American, Singaporean, African and Asian zoos
Total score - 6/7 out of 14
Transcaspian urial
Morphology: 0/1? – Resembles a Dall sheep, but with much more magnificent horns and a mane in rams
Biome: 1 – Shares taiga with Dall sheep and ibex; also has temperate and desert biome
Distribution: 2 – No other even-toed ungulate is recorded from its range
Conservation: 2 – Critically Endangered
Popularity: 0 – Practically unknown to the general public
Visual appeal: 1 – While it may be seen to many as just a sheep, its magnificent horns elevate it
Rarity in zoos: 1 – Found in Europe, North America and South Africa, but nowhere is it common
Total score – 7-8 out of 14
Venezuelan red howler monkey
Morphology: 2 – Although it is another New World monkey, it is very different in appearance to the capuchin
Biome: 0 – Shares the tropical biome with most of the other in-game monkeys
Distribution: 1 – Tiny overlap with the capuchin but would otherwise be the only South American monkey
Conservation: 0 – Least Concern
Popularity: 2 – In my experience, red howlers are the species commonly shown in wildlife documentaries
Visual appeal: 2 – The more richly-coloured of the two commonly-kept howler monkeys
Rarity in zoos: 1 – Found in Europe and North and South America, but nowhere common
Total score – 8 out of 14
Yellow-throated marten
Morphology: 2 – This looks like no other mustelid, or indeed carnivore, in the game
Biome: 0 – Has tropical, temperate and taiga, overlapping with all three in-game mustelids
Distribution: 1 – Overlaps with Asian small-clawed otter, but has large areas where it is the only mustelid
Conservation: 0 – Least Concern
Popularity: 1 – Recognisable as a marten, but the exact species is probably not so well known
Visual appeal: 2 – Extremely colourful and active
Rarity in zoos: 1 – Quite common in Europe and parts of Asia, but doesn’t have worldwide representation
Total score – 7 out of 14
. I think the "popularity" of animals also is dependent from where are you coming and which Zoos you have visited except some clear animals nearly everybody knows like the Dromedary Camel or perhaps the Emu. When I think of myself I did not really know the Sand Cat before the Forum but I knew the Honey Badger because there was a video I have watched about it where it permanently escapes from its enclosure.
