We’re leaping for joy and celebrating World Lemur Day at Smithsonian’s National Zoo! This special holiday—which takes place the last Friday in October—is the perfect occasion for learning all about our lemur friends.
Unlike other primates, such as monkeys, apes and humans, prosimians usually have
The lions have discovered that if you whack a beer keg against a cement wall hard
Persian onagers are an amazing species! And even though they are not one of the iconic species that you may know, as someone who gets to care for them and spend time with them every day, let me tell you just how amazing they are.
If you want to understand why onagers are so cool, you have to understand where they
Also called the Moholi bushbaby, southern lesser galagos are small, tree-dwelling members of the primate family that can be found throughout forested savannah areas of southern Africa. They rely on their huge eyes, strong hands and long tails to move quickly through the trees at nighttime.
They have large, gray ears and short snouts with a white strip between their eyes
Japanese giant salamanders are the second-largest salamander species in the world. These long-lived amphibians lurk in Japan’s rocky, fast-flowing streams.
Some appear quite dark, while others have lighter patches of browns.
This small songbird is a common sight among the leafy woodlands of North America during the spring and summer months. It is noteworthy for its ruby-red irises and persistent singing.
Juveniles have brown irises, while adults have red irises.
Biologist Kenton Kerns and keeper Maria Montgomery share the scoop on the Zoo’s sand cats in the latest Q & A.
Cats Clyde Nishimura If you’ve visited the Small Mammal House recently, you may have
Cuckoos are extremely secretive birds and difficult to spot. Researchers are developing a tool, using remote sound recorders and artificial intelligence, to help detect them.
has caught the attention of conservationists, and groups across the Western U.S. have
When animal keepers introduced Andean bears Billie Jean and Quito earlier this spring, it seemed that love was in the air. Or, was it hormones? To discover how hormones can affect a bear’s behavior during breeding season, keeper Sara Colandrea has teamed up with Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute research fellow Natalia Prado. Together, they hope to crack the code of Andean bear reproduction and help other zoos produce bouncing baby bears.
Since 2005, only nine cubs have been born and survived to adulthood in the North
Their hobbies include eating, snuggling and snoozing. Follow your nose to the Small Mammal House and meet our new striped skunk brothers, Pigpen and Sauerkraut!
People often have a fear of being sprayed by skunks.
