In addition to feedback I provided in the recent news thread on conflicting alpine habitat biome suitability within the game, I wanted to share a comprehensive review of biome suitability for all species introduced in the Zookeepers Animal Pack. This feedback aims to highlight opportunities to expand biome suitability options, review existing ones, and ensure that each species more accurately reflects its natural habitats.
Below are details of the biome suitability feedback summarized in the table above for each species included in the Zookeepers Animal Pack, along with related requirements:
Species | Natural Habitat | Current Biome Suitability | Missing Biome Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Spurred Tortoise | The Sahel (along kori and on stabilized dunes)[1][2] | 'Grassland', 'Desert' |  |
| Coquerel's Sifaka | Dry deciduous forest, mangrove forest[3][4] | 'Tropical' | |
| Hamadryas Baboon | Subdesert, steppe, savanna, escarpments, hillsides, mountains[5][6][7] | 'Grassland', 'Desert' | |
| Kirk's Dik-Dik | Dense thorn scrub, arid thickets, open savanna woodland[8][9] | 'Grassland' | 'Desert' |
| Markhor | Open woodland, scrubland, light forest[10][11] | 'Taiga', 'Tundra' | 'Temperate', 'Grassland' |
| Pallas's Cat | Montane shrubland and grassland, rocky outcrops, dry steppe, semi-desert[12][13] | 'Taiga', 'Tundra', 'Temperate' | 'Grassland' |
| Spectacled Bear | Moist montane and lowland forest, high-altitude grassland and páramo, dry forest, shrubland[14] | 'Tropical', 'Tundra', 'Grassland', 'Taiga' | 'Temperate' |
Below are details of the biome suitability feedback summarized in the table above for each species included in the Zookeepers Animal Pack, along with related requirements:
- African spurred tortoise:
'Desert' biome suitability should be considered, as the game includes 'Desert' biome suitability for semi-desert animals. The Sahel is a transition zone between the dry savanna to the south and the arid Sahara Desert interior to the north. For this reason, it contains both semi-desert environments in its northern half and more typical savanna-like environments in the southern half. Some classification systems therefore divide the Sahel into two categories: semi-desert and dry savanna.[15][16][17][18]The tortoise inhabits both types of environments, reaching as far north as southernmost Algeria, and it is arguably more 'Desert' suitable in game terms than at least the crested porcupine. It would benefit greatly from having suitability for African 'Desert' foliage, such as Sudanese frankincense, which grows in its natural habitat. Already has high tolerance for both grassy and sandy terrain, so no terrain requirement adjustments are needed. - Coquerel's sifaka: All habitat types appear to be covered. Since there is no clear consensus in the game regarding which biome, 'Tropical' or 'Temperate', represents tropical dry forests—some dry deciduous forest species have suitability for the 'Tropical' biome, while others also have 'Temperate'—I can't make a definitive assessment. Therefore, it is likely best to leave the biome suitability options as they are. Conflicting temperature requirements would be a big issue anyway.
- Hamadryas baboon: All major habitat types are covered. There is no immediate need to expand biome suitability, as Afromontane—particularly Afroalpine—foliage options are currently nonexistent in the game. Assigning 'Taiga' or 'Temperate' biome suitability would not add any gameplay advantage and could detract from the experience due to conflicting temperature requirements, without the benefit of additional foliage options. True high-altitude Afromontane habitats are not as essential to the hamadryas baboon as they are for the gelada, in any case.
- Kirk's dik-dik: 'Desert' biome suitability could be considered. While they are not found in the arid Namib Desert in their southwestern range, they are commonly found in semi-desert areas and, to some extent, in the Kaokoveld Desert.[19][20][21] Since species that avoid arid deserts but inhabit semi-arid deserts often receive 'Desert' biome suitability (e.g., crested porcupine, nine-banded armadillo, hamadryas baboon), the same consideration could be made for the dik-dik.
- Markhor: 'Temperate' biome suitability is a high priority. Along with the subalpine coniferous zone, temperate broadleaf woodlands at lower elevations, dominated by oaks, provide prime habitat for the markhor.[10] Depending on the season and condition of the animals, they move up and down the altitudinal gradient between 600 and 3,600 meters above sea level. Adding 'Temperate' biome suitability would make a variety of temperate forest trees from Asia available to them without penalty. 'Grassland' is another biome suitability option to consider, as shrublands are a common feature of lower-elevation areas.[10] The species is quite adaptable, making use of both the drier, semi-arid foothills as well as forests at higher elevations. They can handle most climatic conditions, including heat, so their temperature requirement should be adjusted to cover 'Grassland' biome bounds.[22] I can also suggest a slightly higher tolerance for grassy terrain. They are rarely found above the treeline in true alpine habitats, making 'Tundra' biome suitability irrelevant, regardless of the ongoing debate over alpine habitat classification detailed in the other post.[10]
- Pallas's cat: 'Grassland' biome suitability could be considered. While they are primarily associated with hilly, rocky terrain and high-elevation zones, depending on latitude, they can be found as low as 440 meters above sea level in more lowland areas. Temperate shrublands, grasslands, and even semi-deserts are listed as suitable habitats for this species.[12][13] The addition of 'Grassland' suitability would allow them to benefit from having suitability for Asian steppe grasses and shrubs. An adjustment to their temperature requirement is not necessary, as the Pallas's cat can already tolerate the temperature bounds of the 'Grassland' biome level in the game. A slightly higher tolerance for grassy terrain can be considered.
- Spectacled bear:
'Taiga' biome suitability is a high priority, as high-altitude subalpine forests and (alpine) páramo are major biomes for this species, the latter in which the bear occasionally forages for puya bromeliads, a favorite food item.[14] High Andean foliage, such as the puya plant (Queen of the Andes), is represented in the game, yet the bear currently lacks suitability for it, despite arguably being the species that has the highest association with this plant in the game.A second biome suitability option could be the 'Temperate' biome, though it is of lower priority compared to the former. Currently, there is no consensus in the game regarding what the 'Temperate' biome represents in the tropics, with tropical montane and tropical dry forests being the two main candidates. However, since the spectacled bear inhabits both tropical montane and dry forests, this is not a significant concern in this case. Terrain requirement adjustments are not necessary.
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