Jungle Room

If you’re hoping to take a break from the waters and see some incredibly unique and fascinating creatures on dry land, the Jungle Room is the exhibit for you! This amazing exhibit is filled with reptile species from around the world, not to mention amphibians, insects and arachnids!

With mesmerising appearances and fascinating facts, our Jungle Room is the perfect place to learn something new about some of the creatures from all corners of the earth. From pythons to chameleons, tarantulas to scorpions, let’s have a closer look at what you’ll uncover here…

What is the Jungle Room exhibit?

The Jungle Room is filled with over 30 different animals, housed in an environment that mimics their natural habitat. We’ve put a lot of work into our Jungle Room, adding new displays back in 2014 with a whole host of new, exotic animals. As well as the displays to give the animals a home, we also have interactive activities for younger visitors to enjoy.

Wander through our exhibit at your leisure and take in the many different displays as you have the chance to look at our snakes, turtles and lizards up close. If you fancy learning a little more, we also do a daily talk called Jungle Encounter, giving you even more insights.

What species will you find in the Jungle Room?

Home to a wide array of creatures, our Jungle Room is the perfect place to encounter species that you might otherwise come across. With geckos from Madagascar, frogs from Argentina and giant mantis from Africa, this is an incredibly diverse exhibit that can teach you a thing or two about the lesser known reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit our world.

Here are just some insights into the species you’ll find in our Jungle Room, so you know exactly what to expect…

• Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor): You’ve no doubt heard of this species of snake before! The boa constrictor is native to Central and South America, and is renowned for being a powerful and stealthy hunter. It swallows its prey whole, and doesn’t need to eat again for weeks after a large meal. Boa constrictors continue to grow throughout its life, which can be up to 30 years. This means they can grow to around 4 metres long!
• Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis): The panther chameleon is native to the forests of Madagascar, like many other similar species. They will change colour depending on their emotion, as well as the temperature and light conditions. With rotating eyes and a long, sticky tongue, they are well equipped to spot and catch their prey!
• Red knee tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii): The red knee tarantula is a species found in Mexico, characterised by the red patches on each knee. It is a New World species, part of the Theraphosidae They are typically slow-moving, hairy and their venom is similar to that of a bee sting. They have urticating hairs, which they can flick at any threats in defence.
• Madagascan day gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis): Day geckos are called such because they are one of only a few groups of geckos that are diurnal, which means they are more active in the daytime. They typically live in the trees, found throughout Madagascar. This species is bright green in colour, sometimes with patterns of red, yellow, blue or even black.
• Emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator): The emperor scorpion is one of the largest scorpions in the world, measuring up to 20cm in length. They are black with a long curved tail and two large pincers, which they rely on for hunting. They can sting, but it’s only mild! Emperor scorpions are native to West Africa, in the forests of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Sierra Leone.
• Argentine horned frog (Ceratophrys ornata): Also known as the ornate horned frog, this species is found amongst the grasslands of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. It is characterised by its wide jaw, along with short but powerful limbs – and the small crests above their eyes that resemble horns of course! They are bright green in colour but usually have patterns of red, yellow or brown stripes and marks.

Who will enjoy the Jungle Room exhibit?

Anyone who is fascinated by the world of reptiles and amphibians will love our Jungle Room! It’s the perfect place to see these creatures in more detail, so whether you’re intrigued by how snakes and lizards spend their time, or you’re hoping to see some frogs hopping about, it’s all right here!

It offers a great alternative to our fish exhibits, and kids and adults alike will enjoy walking round our various jungle themed displays so that you can all learn something new to take home.