Small Animals

CAVIA PORCELLUS

The guinea pig, or cavy, is a domestic animal that are still found wild today. Guinea pigs are not especially agile nor are they good climbers but they can swim. They naturally live in large groups called 'herds' and when threatened they 'stampede', which involves running in different directions in order to confuse the predator.

EXCALFACTORIA CHINENSIS

The Chinese Painted Quail is about 4-5 inches in height. They are ground dwellers and love to sit on top of their houses to watch the world go by. When they are frightened they fly straight up and can cause themselves quite serious injuries if their cage has a low roof.

ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS DOMESTICUS

The domestic rabbit is the descendant of the wild European rabbit commonly seen in fields and woodland throughout Europe. Rabbits have a natural instinct to dig in order to create warrens in which they sleep and raise their young. They also must have company and are a highly sociable animal.

TERRAPENE CAROLINA TRIUNGUIS

The three toed box turtle is native to the South-Central United States. They also have a shell that is hinged underneath meaning they can retract their head and legs and then close the shell entirely to protect them from predators.

Octodon Degus

The common degu is endemic to Chile. Degus are highly sociable animals and live in close knit family groups. Unlike many small mammals, the male degu helps in the raising of the young, which are born fully furred with their eyes open. Degus are also diurnal, meaning they are awake during the day and sleep at night.

Podargus Strigoides

From the family Podargidae. Although related to owls they are closest to nightjars and oilbirds. Native to Australia these birds are masters of camouflage, blending seamlessly with tree bark.

Dacelo Novaeguineae

Part of a subfamily of the kingfishers that are known as tree kingfishers. Native to Australia, and famous for their distinctive laughing call.

Gallus Domesticus

Chickens are one of the most common and widespread domestic animals. There are more chickens in the world than any other bird. Chickens are omnivores. In the wild, they often scratch at the soil to search for seeds, insects, and even animals as large as lizards, small snakes, or sometimes young mice.

Fringillidae

There are approx. 234 species of finches worldwide. Finches are small birds with forked or notched tails, moderately pointed wings, rounded or elongated bodies and round heads, with more or less triangular bills.

Cygnus Atratus

This is a large waterbird, a species of swan which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. Easily recognisable by their black plumage, white flights and bright red bill, the Black Swan has a proportionately longer neck than any other swan.

Emperor Goose -Anser Canagicus
Chinese Goose - Anser Cygnoides

Geese are a large waterbird with a long neck, short legs, webbed feet, and a short broad bill. Generally geese are larger than ducks and have longer necks and shorter bills.

Phasianidae

Pheasants belong to the Phasianidae and belong to same family as Turkeys, quails and grouse. There is about 50 different species in the world. They are not native to UK and its thought that the Romans first brought them here.

Sciurus Vulgaris

The Eurasian Red Squirrel is a species of squirrel that can be found throughout Europe and Asia; however, in Great Britain, Ireland, and Italy, their numbers have dramatically reduced due to the introduction of the grey squirrel.

Chinchilla lanigera

The chinchilla has the densest fur of all mammals that live on land, with around 20,000 hairs per square centimetre and 50 hairs growing from each follicle. In their native habitats, chinchillas live in burrows or crevices in rocks. They are agile jumpers and can jump up to 6ft.