Saturday, September 29, 2012

Fresh Sheet – September 29, 2012

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.

El Salvador

10 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
30 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
10 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
25 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
10 - Heliconius hortense (Mountain Longwing)
25 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
10 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
40 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
15 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
25 - Myscelia ethusa (Royal Blue Butterfly)
25 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio pilumnus (Three-tailed Swallowtail)
08 - Parides montezuma (Montezuma Cattleheart)
17 - Archeoprepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
18 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
15 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 293

Suriname

40 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
35 - Heraclides anchisiades (Ruby-spotted Swallowtail)
05 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
40 - Heliconius melpomene (Postman)
40 - Catonephele orites (Orange-banded Shoemaker)
20 - Anartia amathea (Scarlet Peacock)
05 - Hypna clytemnestra (Silver-studded Leafwing)
40 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
05 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)
40 - Phoebis sennae (Cloudless Sulphur)

Total = 270

Grand Total = 563

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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Goodbye Mopsy


After struggling with health problems for some weeks, Mopsy, the axolotl, passed away on Sunday, September 9.

Mopsy arrived at Pacific Science Center in 2009, a large, clear skinned animal with a spectacular “mophead” of gills, the origin of her name. Mopsy was somewhat accident prone, getting her foot caught in things, being bitten by tank-mates, hurting her tail. Being an axolotl, she always regenerated tissue quickly when she hurt herself.


Through her resilient nature, Mopsy taught us how to feed and care for her species. It was easy to start thinking nothing could slow her down. Lately, however, even with conditions right, her appetite declined and she became withdrawn. The other axolotls are thriving and even plump and she was slowly wasting. She had been in to the vet and was on medication in late August, and then on a second antibiotic afterwards.

It is sad to watch a vibrantly healthy, active animal decline in health, but beyond that, we wanted to make sure that her passing was not brought about by conditions that could potentially harm the other axolotls. Especially because of their recent relocation all of us were somewhat anxious to learn more about her cause of death.

We brought her remains to the Center for Bird and Exotic Animals for necropsy (animal autopsy). The results have now come back.

Mopsy had tissue changes to her kidneys, liver and ovaries. Her ovaries and liver had increased cells and enlargement typical of an older animal. They weren’t signs of disease as such, but part of the aging process.

The kidneys had dilation and cell accumulation; there was inflammation from her kidneys to her vent. She may have had a blockage somewhere in that pathway, meaning difficulty eliminating waste. She had some spinal damage which the vet initially thought happened after death, but may have been an old injury. If so, it may have damaged her kidneys as well as her spine and contributed to her problems.

There was no sign of infectious disease that we would need to worry about with the other axolotls. It also doesn’t look like water conditions played much of a role.

I asked if there was any way we could have detected the problem earlier. The vet said probably not. He lack of appetite and change in behavior were signs of pain, but it would have been difficult even with ultrasound imaging for them to have seen where the pain was coming from.

So. The good news is we probably didn’t do anything that made Mopsy sick, or that made her existing condition worse. The bad news is if she was old, so are two others in the tank.

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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Fresh Sheet – September 22, 2012


On the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of autumn, it seems appropriate that our emerging window contains ninety Autumn Leaf butterflies (Doleschalia bisaltide ). Come see them plus the 686 other beautiful butterflies soon to be flying!

Philippines

80 - Papilio lowii (Sunset Swallowtail)
19 - Papilio palinurus (Banded Peacock)
50 - Papilio rumanzovia (Crimson Swallowtail)
80 - Idea leuconoe (Paper Kite)
80 - Doleschalia bisaltide (Autumn Leaf)
20 - Pachliopta kotzeboea (Pink Rose)
17 - Graphium agamemnon (Tailed Jay)
80 - Parthenos sylvia philippensis (The Clipper)
04 - Ideopsis vulgaris (Blue Glassy Tiger)
20 - Papilio polytes (Polite Swallowtail)
16 - Cethosia biblis (Red Lacewing)
40 - Hypolimnas bolina (Blue moon)

Total = 506

LPS-LLC

02 - Athyma perius (Common Sergeant)
03 - Attacus atlas (Atlas Moth)
10 - Catopsilia scylla (Orange Emigrant)
10 - Cethosia cyane (Leopard Lacewing)
10 - Charaxes brutus (White-barred Charaxes)
10 - Charaxes castor (Giant Charaxes)
10 - Charaxes cithaeron (Blue-spotted Charaxes)
10 - Doleschalia bisaltide (Autumn Leaf)
07 - Euploea core (Common Crow)
10 - Graphium agamemnon (Tailed Jay)
30 - Hypolimnas bolina (Blue moon)
30 - Idea leuconoe (Paper Kite)
10 - Pachliopta kotzeboea (Pink Rose)
30 - Papilio dardanus (Mocker Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio lowii (Sunset Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio memnon (Great Memnon)
08 - Papilio nireus (Blue-banded Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio polytes (Polite Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio rumanzovia (Crimson Swallowtail)
10 - Parthenos sylvia lilacinus (Blue Clipper)
10 - Parthenos sylvia philippensis (The Clipper)
10 - Parthenos sylvia violaceae (Violet Clipper)

Total = 270

Grand Total = 776

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.

Read more!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Turtle Makeover

When Chloe began her internship in Pacific Science Center’s Animal Care department, there was no question: She loved reptiles of any kind, and hoped for a chance to work with them. But no one knew how timely her contribution was about to become, as Ali the turtle’s shell and his cage proved too drab for such a colorful animal.Here's Chloe's story.

You may remember Ali our Western Painted Turtle that we were given in May. Both he and his cage got a makeover.

We received Ali from Pacific Science Center’s Mercer Slough education program several months ago. Ali had been donated to them recently but they had no educational programing for him so they gave him to us! Between moving three times and having many people take care of him, he had some health problems. His shell was faded and not the right shape, so we scheduled a vet appointment for him. After examining the turtle, Dr. Maas started scraping Ali's shell and pieces started coming off onto the floor.

We were alarmed at first, but learned that like all reptiles, turtles shed and Ali hadn’t been shedding his shell. We were sent home with some vitamins that we squirt into his mouth along with his meals, which he surprisingly likes. He is looking a lot better, and has started shedding all by himself!

Ali came to us with a minimal amount of decoration in his cage. His cage had two big rocks, a plastic basking spot, and a few fake plants when we got him. As an Animal Care intern, I was looking for a culminating project towards the end of the summer, and I decided to tackle redesigning Ali's cage. I talked to our vet, did some research, and discussed what I could get with Life Sciences manager, Sarah Moore.


I added a background, a water plant, flat rocks, an extra inch or two of water depth, and a lot of pebbles. Our turtle is like a toddler in that if given the option, he will eat and choke on anything he can put in his mouth, so we had to make sure everything we put in the cage was too big for Ali to eat.

Good thing too because the first 15 minutes Ali spent in his new cage were filled with trying to eat everything in sight.

Western Painted Turtles are endangered or imperiled in parts of their range, because of loss of habit and invasive animals like bullfrogs, and because so many are captured for the pet trade. In other areas, pet turtles released into the wild can spread illnesses to native turtles that already live there. Ali will not be returned to the wild, but we hope to make his habitat as natural feeling as we can.

I hope you come by to see Ali and his new cage!


Chloe, Animal Care Intern

Want to learn more about how you can help protect endangered turtle species? Woodland Park Zoo runs a program designed to protect the even more threatened Western Pond Turtle, which is endangered in all of Washington State. Visit their website to find out how you can help!



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Saturday, September 15, 2012

Fresh Sheet – September 15, 2012


This week's pupae shipment from El Salvador contains some of our most favorite species. Recognize yours? Come visit.

El Salvador

10 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
30 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
10 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
25 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
10 - Heliconius hortense (Mountain Longwing)
25 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
10 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
40 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
15 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
25 - Myscelia ethusa (Royal Blue Butterfly)
25 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio pilumnus (Three-tailed Swallowtail)
08 - Parides montezuma (Montezuma Cattleheart)
17 - Prepona demophon (One-spotted Prepona)
18 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
15 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 293

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.

Read more!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

We Answer Your Mail!


A couple of weeks ago, Life Sciences Manager Sarah Moore received a distressed email from a visitor. The letter described a visit to Pacific Science Center, including the Insect Village and the Animal Attraction area. It highlighted two areas that did not look up to expectations.

The Vietnamese stick insects had eaten all of their food, and were wandering around on bare sticks.


Ali, the new turtle, was looking dingy. His shell was discolored, and his cage had artificial plants and not much to do.


By coincidence, we got a second letter on the same day, from a frequent visitor, asking why we got rid of the naked mole-rats. The mole-rats are actually still here, but the guest was looking in their old location.



Below are excerpts from our replies to the two letters.

Regarding the naked mole-rats being moved (the recipient of this letter is an eight-year-old).
I love the naked mole-rats too. I help take care of them. They are still here at Pacific Science Center, but they have moved. Now they live in the Insect Village … We wanted to get them settled in before the noise, vibration and dust from the construction of Professor Wellbody’s Academy began. You can find a story about the move in our blog:
http://pacscilife.blogspot.com/2012/05/animal-attractions.html

If you pick up one of our visitor guides, it now lists the naked mole rats as being in the insect village. But in reading your letter, you probably come here so often you don’t use the visitor guides much. So you would have missed that.

The animals love their new location, and we like it too. It is quieter and it’s easy for us to keep it nice and warm. People are actually a little closer to them than before, so you can get a better idea of what they are doing. I would love for you to come visit them again …


Regarding the stick insects and turtle:

You mention the stick insects first … The population in the exhibit has been gradually growing … food that used to last a week is not sufficient. At our staff meeting today, we decided to change their schedule to feed twice per week, and to supplement their primary food with more variety that will hold up better to having them climb on it.

Regarding the turtle … Ali the turtle was donated to our program with his shell already in the condition you saw. This is due to calcium deficiency, and in addition to changes in his diet, we have given him a full spectrum light bulb, as they need UV light to properly assimilate calcium. Our veterinarian is taking blood samples to see whether vitamin D supplements are also in order. [There will be a blog story about Ali soon. –ed]



… We are gradually changing out his furnishings to give him more to do. Our summer intern is brainstorming enrichment items for him. I want his habitat to look natural, but I am even more interested in having it “feel” natural to him – that is to provide for his behavioral needs. My focus has been on giving him things to play with – he is a very playful turtle.
Both visitors brought up important issues, and both needed to be answered. We really like hearing this kind of question from our visitors. It helps us see things from a new perspective, and lets us know what you think needs improving. We would so much rather communicate about your concerns rather than have you walk away unhappy. We never want a learning opportunity to be hindered by distress at an animal’s condition! If you have something you think we should know about, please feel free to write.

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Saturday, September 8, 2012

No Fresh Sheet – September 8, 2012

There is no pupae shipment this week but the Tropical Butterfly House is open and butterflies are fluttering. As the kids are back in school, now is a perfect time to relax and enjoy our peaceful garden.


Also, these last warm days of summer are an excellent time to get outside and view our native butterfly species. Don’t forget to bring a camera ...

... and look under every eaten leaf!

Read more!

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Fresh Sheet – September 1, 2012


This week’s pupae shipments brought us 622 pupae, many of whom could not wait to get here! You should not wait either. Visit us soon!

El Salvador

20 - Battus belus (Belus Swallowtail)
25 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
20 - Catonephele numilia (Numilia)
12 - Consul fabius (Tiger Leafwing)
15 - Heliconius charitonius (Zebra Longwing)
25 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
20 - Heliconius hecale (Tiger Longwing)
20 - Heliconius ismenius (Ismenius Longwing)
10 - Lycorea cleobaea (Large Tiger)
50 - Morpho peleides (Blue Morpho)
40 - Morpho polyphemus (White Morpho)
25 - Papilio erostratus (Dusky Swallowtail)
10 - Papilio pilumnus (Three-tailed Swallowtail)
10 - Prepona omphale (Blue Belly-Button)
15 - Siderone nemesis (Red-striped Leafwing)

Total = 352

Suriname

10 - Parides sesostris (Emerald-patch Cattleheart)
40 - Battus polydamas (Polydamus Swallowtail)
20 - Heraclides anchisiades (Ruby-spotted Swallowtail)
10 - Heliconius erato (Small Postman)
40 - Heliconius melpomene (Postman)
40 - Dryas iulia (Julia Longwing)
30 - Catonephele orites (Orange-banded shoemaker)
10 - Anartia amathea (Scarlet Peacock)
10 - Nessaea aglaura (Aglaura Olivewing)
10 - Hypna clytemnestra (Silver-studded Leafwing)
40 - Caligo memnon (Owl Butterfly)
10 - Tithorea harmonia (Harmonia Tigerwing)

Total = 270

Grand Total = 622

“Fresh Sheet” is our weekly shipment report of pupae on display in the emerging window. Visit Pacific Science Center’s Tropical Butterfly House and meet our newest residents.

Read more!