Animals

Academy biologists sustainably source many of the butterfly species found in our four-story rainforest exhibit through a conservation partnership with the Costa Rica Entomological Supply (CRES), helping to support local communities and native plant populations. Follow the journey as pupae make their way to the Academy, where they will emerge and inspire visitors to protect rainforest ecosystems around the world.

Hear from Steinhart Aquarium's highly skilled animal husbandry team about how they care for Methuselah, our lively eldest Australian lungfish. Learn how Methuselah has inspired and educated visitors to become one of the Academy's most iconic residents.

Biologists in the Steinhart Aquarium use enrichment and training to keep animals—like penguins, stingrays, and macaws—healthy and engaged. It also helps the animals communicate and connect with their caregivers.

Scorpions are lurking in your backyard (really!). Don't worry, they're relatively harmless (and adorable!). Two fun facts: they fluoresce in ultraviolet light and they're the only arachnid to give birth to live young.

Northern spotted owls are endangered and scientists are rushing to learn more about the species to help protect them against potential threats.

Intelligent, color-changing, inking squid are some of the largest (and smallest) marine animals in the sea.

How do you keep intelligent octopuses from getting bored?

Endangered pandas breed more successfully in captivity when they have a choice of mate.

Ten different animals desperately need attention for their survival and zoos and aquariums want all of us to get involved.

How do dung beetles find their way? They do a little dance.

Academy biologists feed the Academy's anaconda a euthanized guinea pig. The guinea pig was not served alive, because it could possibly damage the museum's specimen. Additionally, it would experience unneccessary trauma. (Video filmed by Richard Ross)

Witness the different stages of a young chicken's life cycle in-person at the Academy's hatchery. Chicken eggs hatch 21 days after fertilization; an incubator keeps the eggs uniformly warm and moist leading up to hatching. The right temperature and humidity keeps the embryos developing normally with proper levels of fluids and gases. Once they hatch, chicks are then kept in the hatcher for the first 24 hours to rest and dry. They are then kept in a brooder for 5-8 weeks until they grow feathers. This Spring to Life exhibit will be on display in the Piazza from March 14 - April 24, 2011.

An 18-foot 150-pound female Bali yellow-head reticulated python (Python reticulatus) gets a physical exam by the Academy's resident veterinarian and team of biologists. These snakes originate in Southeast Asia and feed on birds, lizards and mammals.

Lemondrop, a bright yellow 15 ft (4.4 m) male albino reticulated python, gets a physical exam before being introduced to his new home at the California Academy of Sciences. The snake lacks the dark pigment melanin necessary for normal coloration; lack of coloration can be a survival disadvantage because he won't blend into the environment and is more likely to be spotted by predators. Lemondrop was born in captivity and hasn't faced the perils of the jungle environment. Reticulated pythons are nonvenomous ambush hunters using both sight and smell to locate prey.

Researchers from Steinhart Aquarium traveled to South Africa to help save hundreds of penguin chicks from starvation.

Researchers are getting to know a population of Spotted Eagle Rays in Florida in efforts to protect them.

Our biologist Nancy provides a close up encounter with our giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini).

Academy biologist Eric provides a behind the scenes look at training the Academy's Barn Owl (Tyto alba). Barn Owls are native to the San Francisco Bay Area and are the most widely distributed species of owl. Their body length can reach 40 centimeters (15.5 inches) with a 110 centimeters (43 inch) wingspan. These nocturnal birds have excellent low-light vision but they find prey using asymmetrically placed ears that localize sounds generated by voles, pocket gophers, mice and rats.

Academy aviculturist Vikki provides a behind the scene look into catching, identifying, and feeding the free-flying birds that inhabit the Rainforests of the World exhibit. There are over 12 different species of birds that live in the rainforest, including silver-beaked tanagers (Ramphocelus carbo), red-legged honeycreepers (Cyanerpes cyaneus), bananaquits (Coereba flaveola), paradise tanagers (Tangara chilensis), rufous-crowned tanagers (Tangara cayana), violaceous euphonias (Euphonia violacea), opal-rumped tanagers (Tanagara velia), and turquoise tanagers (Tangara mexicana).