Wile E. Coyote better watch out, as there are some new animals at the Chattanooga Zoo ready to give him a run for his money. Recently, the Deserts portion of the new Deserts and Forests exhibit at the Chattanooga Zoo acquired two new tenants: a pair of brother and sister Roadrunners.
The sibling pair recently relocated to the Chattanooga Zoo from the Fort Worth Zoo. Roadrunners, scientifically known as Geococcyx californianus, are fast running ground cuckoo birds known for their long tails and distinctive crests. They can be found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, and have been known to run up to 20 miles per hour.
“We are very excited to add these wonderful birds to our collection,” said Dardenelle Long, Zoo CEO.“They’re always moving around, and are a lot of fun to watch. They make great exhibit and education animals. There is much we can learn from their unique set of behaviors and rituals.”
Roadrunners have developed an almost iconic status due to Warner Bros. portrayal of the birds in their Looney Toons series. What most people might not know, however, is that unlike their television counterparts, Roadrunners can be quite vocal and most often express themselves through guttural clucking similar to a deck of cards being shuffled.
For more information on viewing the Roadrunners or the rest of the Chattanooga Zoo’s animal collections, visit www.chattzoo.org or call 423.697.1319.
Source: Chattanooga Zoo