I was thinking about the sort of small mammals that would go well in a hypothetical pack that dealt with these animals. Because the most-requested small mammal (indeed, the second-most requested animal at all, according to the meta-wishlist) is the meerkat, I included it here and worked with the assumption that all animals would be of similar size or slightly larger than meerkats and smaller than the current smallest habitat animal (the ring-tailed lemur). I have chosen animals that are all kept in large and complex outdoor enclosures in real zoos and tried to choose animals with a variety of movement types, from different habitats and continents and that all look very different from each other.
I have only chosen habitat animals here - not sure if or how an exhibit small mammal could work. I did notice that smaller elephant-shrews, such as the round-eared elephant-shrew, are practically cold-blooded and spend much of their time inactive but not seeing them move around at all would still seem unnatural.
The four small mammals, in no particular order:
1. Meerkat Suricata suricatta
- Least Concern
- Normally lives in groups of 3-20 (exceptionally up to 49)
- Carnivorous
- Lifespan of 20 years
Notes: This species can use a new burrow enrichment item; not sure how feasible it is, but a tube that can be used so long as both entrances are clear (so it could be mostly buried) is an idea
Enclosure example: Woburn Safari Park (UK)
2. Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Near Threatened
- Solitary
- Carnivorous
- Lifespan of 22 years
Notes: This species can use the deep diving mechanic; this species is included to add both a new diving species and an animal from Oceania - despite its rarity in captivity it is an easily recognisable and charismatic species
Enclosure example: Healesville Sanctuary (Australia)
3. Guianan squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus
- Least Concern
- Normally lives in groups of 10-30 (exceptionally up to 500)
- Omnivorous
- Lifespan of 30 years
Notes: Perhaps rather obvious, but this species will require the climbing mechanic
Enclosure example: Edinburgh Zoo (UK)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAksjSUmaWk
4. Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris
- Least Concern
- Not social but also not territorial; can live in groups in captivity
- Omnivorous
- Lifespan of 14 years
Notes: Although this is the smallest species by a considerable margin by weight, there is little difference in length (within 10cm) between the squirrel and both the platypus and meerkat; this species will also use the climbing mechanic
Enclosure example: Wildwood Trust (UK)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lRebGMpMoI
I have only chosen habitat animals here - not sure if or how an exhibit small mammal could work. I did notice that smaller elephant-shrews, such as the round-eared elephant-shrew, are practically cold-blooded and spend much of their time inactive but not seeing them move around at all would still seem unnatural.
The four small mammals, in no particular order:
1. Meerkat Suricata suricatta
- Least Concern
- Total length: 53cm
- Maximum weight: 0.97kg
- Africa
- Desert / Grassland
- Normally lives in groups of 3-20 (exceptionally up to 49)
- Carnivorous
- Lifespan of 20 years
- Does not benefit from sharing enclosure with other species
- Suitable for walkabout exhibits
Notes: This species can use a new burrow enrichment item; not sure how feasible it is, but a tube that can be used so long as both entrances are clear (so it could be mostly buried) is an idea
Enclosure example: Woburn Safari Park (UK)
2. Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
- Near Threatened
- Total length: 50cm
- Maximum weight: 2.4kg
- Oceania
- Aquatic / Temperate / Tropical
- Solitary
- Carnivorous
- Lifespan of 22 years
- Does not benefit from sharing enclosure with other species
- Not suitable for walkabout exhibits
Notes: This species can use the deep diving mechanic; this species is included to add both a new diving species and an animal from Oceania - despite its rarity in captivity it is an easily recognisable and charismatic species
Enclosure example: Healesville Sanctuary (Australia)
3. Guianan squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus
- Least Concern
- Total length: 77cm
- Maximum weight: 1.1kg
- South America
- Tropical
- Normally lives in groups of 10-30 (exceptionally up to 500)
- Omnivorous
- Lifespan of 30 years
- Benefits from sharing an enclosure with Colombian white-faced capuchin monkeys
- Suitable for walkabout exhibits
Notes: Perhaps rather obvious, but this species will require the climbing mechanic
Enclosure example: Edinburgh Zoo (UK)
4. Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris
- Least Concern
- Total length: 45cm
- Maximum weight: 0.35kg
- Asia / Europe
- Taiga / Temperate
- Not social but also not territorial; can live in groups in captivity
- Omnivorous
- Lifespan of 14 years
- Does not benefit from sharing enclosure with other species
- Suitable for walkabout exhibits
Notes: Although this is the smallest species by a considerable margin by weight, there is little difference in length (within 10cm) between the squirrel and both the platypus and meerkat; this species will also use the climbing mechanic
Enclosure example: Wildwood Trust (UK)
