Wordless Wednesday

Legopithecus rosalia kenneyi

Wordless Wednesday are, well, meant to be "wordless" but I've gotten a lot of questions about my Wordless Wednesday post yesterday so I've decided to include more photos and write a little bit about these cute critters.

I was up in Philadelphia for the Halloween weekend and no trip to Philadelphia is complete without me going to The Philadelphia Zoo. While there, I managed to catch the Creatures of Habitat exhibit. The exhibits are made from LEGO bricks (OMG childhood memories) and my favorite were definitely the ones I've posted on my Wordless Wednesday post yesterday. 

They are, of course, the Golden Lion Tamarins (Leonpithecus rosalia) but the folks that made them did have a sense of humor. If you actually read the signs posted by the exhibit, you'll realize that the Latin name for these critters are Legopithecus rosalia kenneyi. Hah! Legopithecus (Lego ape). Brilliant. Although, for argument sake, Golden Lion Tamarins are not apes but monkeys. 

But why the kenneyi subspecies name? One of the artists that made these Lego sculptures is Sean Kenney, in which I would think where the subspecies name comes from (It's probably an Easter egg). I wonder what they plan to do with these sculptures when the exhibition is done. I'd love to get my fingers on one (maybe two). Here are more Lego Golden Lion Tamarin pictures from the Creatures of Habitat exhibit. Enjoy!

Only 12 individuals of this subspecies left!

 HAHAHA! Brilliant.

 Grooming.

 Pirate tamarin. Yarrr!

 Golden Lion Tamarin using a tool (stick). Not sure they do though ...

Philadelphia's Baby Sumatran Orangutan Gets A Name!

After two months of being born, the female baby Sumatran orangutan from Philadelphia Zoo finally gets a name! The baby is given the name Batu, named after a group of islands of the coast of Sumatra. The other two choices were Kadoa (small gift) and Anoano (blessing). Over half of the 3.400 online votes favor the name Batu, myself included. Batu was born in October 2nd, 2009 to father Sugi and mother Tua.

Batu, in the embrace of her mother Tua. Photo from Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer:

"PECO is sponsoring an Orangutan Baby Naming Weekend from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday which will include special activities at the PECO Primate Reserve and giveaways to first 200 people to arrive at the zoo each day."

 So, go on down to Philadelphia Zoo and celebrate the merriment! Unfortunately I'll be at the American Anthropological Association (AAA)'s Student Saturday today and will be going to Mutter Museum with my friends on Sunday (though I might be able to persuade them to go to the zoo instead).

Read more about Batu: Baby Sumatran Orangutan Born In Philadelphia Zoo & Name The Female Baby Sumatran Orangutan.

Baby Sumatran Orangutan Born in Philadelphia Zoo

While Ardipithecus ramidus was all abuzz in the paleontology, physical anthropology, primatology and science blogosphere yesterday, the folks at Philadelphia Zoo were keeping themselves busy for another addition to their PECO Primate Reserve.

 Sugi, the proud father. Flickr photo from Kevin Burkett.

A baby was born to the zoo's resident Sumatran orangutan family (Pongo abelii), Tua (16 years old) and Sugi (13 years old), on Oct 2nd at around 8am. This is the first orangutan baby born at PECO Primate Reserve since it was opened in 1999 and also the first offspring for both Tua and Sugi. No words yet whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

According to Philadelphia Zoo's press release, both mother and baby appear to be doing well. The first 48 hours are crucial for the baby so zoo staff and veterinarians are closely monitoring both Tua and her baby. They do not know when Tua and her baby will make their debut at the PECO Primate Reserve.

Congratulations Tua and Sugi! See you soon.

Photo of the day: Nom Nom Nom

Spectacled langur, dusky leaf monkey or spectacled leaf langur (Trachypithecus obscurus) at the PECO Primate Reserve, Philadelphia Zoo eating lettuce.