Animals at Oakland Zoo

These are the animals Oakland Zoo in Oakland, California listed on its website when we gathered this information. Use these pages to prepare for a field trip or follow up afterward.

This list was last checked in October 2026. Animals sometimes move to other zoos, so an animal listed here may no longer be at Oakland Zoo. Before your visit, check the zoo's website or contact the zoo to make sure the animals you want to see are still there.

Visit the Oakland Zoo website ↗

African Savanna (22)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

Speckled MousebirdColius striatusA scruffy, long-tailed African bird that scampers through bushes like a mouse and can hang upside down to eat fruit.Sudan Plated LizardGerrhosaurus major (also called Broadleysaurus major)A sturdy African lizard covered in rows of square, plate-like scales, with a tail twice as long as its body.Ball PythonPython regiusA small, calm African python that curls into a tight ball with its head tucked inside when frightened.Pancake TortoiseMalacochersus tornieriA critically endangered East African tortoise with a thin, flat, flexible shell that hides in rock cracks instead of in its shell.Yellow-Billed StorkMycteria ibisA tall white African stork with a bright yellow bill and red face that feels for fish and frogs in shallow water.

White-Faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataA long-necked duck of Africa and South America with a white face that whistles instead of quacking and often perches in trees.Taveta Golden WeaverPloceus castaneicepsA bright yellow East African weaver whose males weave fancy grass nests to impress females.Superb StarlingLamprotornis superbusA small, shiny blue-green and orange East African starling that lives in family flocks where helpers raise chicks.Malagasy Sacred IbisThreskiornis bernieriAn endangered white ibis with a black head and pale blue eyes that lives along the coasts of western Madagascar and Aldabra.Hooded VultureNecrosyrtes monachusA small African vulture with a bare pink face and a downy "hood" that cleans up carrion and is now critically endangered.HamerkopScopus umbrettaA brown African wading bird with a hammer-shaped head that builds the biggest nest of any bird in Africa.Blue-Bellied RollerCoracias cyanogasterA cream-and-blue West and Central African bird named for the tumbling, rolling flights males perform in courtship.Common WarthogPhacochoerus africanusA wild African pig with curved tusks and bumpy face "warts" that roots for food and shelters in old aardvark burrows.Spotted HyenaCrocuta crocutaA powerful, spotted African hunter that lives in female-led clans and has some of the strongest jaws of any mammal.Reticulated GiraffeGiraffa reticulata (also listed as Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)An endangered giraffe of northern Kenya with orange-brown patches outlined by a network of bright white lines.Schmidt's GuenonCercopithecus ascanius schmidtiA colorful African monkey with a white nose and a chestnut-red tail, also called the red-tailed monkey, that stuffs its cheek pouches with food.LionPanthera leoA large wild cat of the African savanna that lives in family groups called prides.MeerkatSuricata suricattaA small, social desert mammal of southern Africa, also called the slender-tailed meerkat, that takes turns standing guard.KlipspringerOreotragus oreotragusA small, sure-footed African antelope that hops from rock to rock on tiny hooves the size of a dime.Hamadryas BaboonPapio hamadryasA baboon of the Horn of Africa whose males have bushy silver manes and lead small family units within big troops.Plains ZebraEquus quagga (subspecies include Grant's zebra)The most common zebra, a grass-grazing striped horse relative of eastern and southern Africa whose stripe pattern is one-of-a-kind on every animal. Grant's zebra is one kind.Dromedary CamelCamelus dromedariusThe one-humped Arabian camel, built for hot deserts, that can go days without drinking.

Tropical Rainforest (13)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

Red-Lored AmazonAmazona autumnalis (Salvin's amazon is the subspecies A. a. salvini)A green Central and South American parrot with red feathers above its beak. The Salvin's amazon is one of its subspecies.

Blue-Fronted AmazonAmazona aestivaA green South American parrot with a blue forehead and yellow face, also called the turquoise-fronted amazon.

Military MacawAra militarisA green macaw with a red forehead that lives in scattered mountain and forest populations from Mexico to Argentina.Guira CuckooGuira guiraA scruffy, spiky-crested South American cuckoo that lives in social flocks that huddle and sunbathe together.Blue-and-Yellow MacawAra araraunaA big blue-and-gold parrot of South American rainforests that mates for life and eats clay from riverbanks.Lar GibbonHylobates larA white-handed Southeast Asian ape that swings through the treetops and sings loud duets with its mate.Malayan Sun BearHelarctos malayanusThe smallest bear, a tree-climbing honey lover of Southeast Asian forests with a golden patch on its chest and the longest tongue of any bear.Squirrel MonkeySaimiri speciesA small, noisy South and Central American monkey that lives in big troops and leaps through the trees using its long tail for balance.Southern PuduPudu pudaOne of the world's smallest deer, a shy, reddish-brown deer of the rainforests of Chile and Argentina.SiamangSymphalangus syndactylusA long-armed gibbon of Southeast Asian rainforests that calls with a deep boom, using a throat sac that swells as big as a grapefruit.Red-Rumped AgoutiDasyprocta leporinaA long-legged South American rodent that buries nuts and is the only animal in its area that can crack Brazil nut pods.Cotton-Top TamarinSaguinus oedipus (also called Oedipomidas oedipus)A squirrel-sized, critically endangered Colombian monkey with a wild crest of long white hair on its head.ChimpanzeePan troglodytesAn endangered, tool-using great ape of African forests that lives in large communities.

California Trail (8)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

California CondorGymnogyps californianusNorth America's biggest bird, a critically endangered bald-headed scavenger with a wingspan up to 9 feet.

Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusThe national bird of the United States, a fish-eating eagle that came back from the edge of extinction.CougarPuma concolorA large, solitary wild cat of the Americas, also called a mountain lion, puma or panther, that hunts mostly deer.JaguarPanthera oncaThe largest cat in the Americas, a powerful spotted hunter that loves water and can bite through turtle shells.Gray WolfCanis lupusA social, pack-living predator that was once the most widespread mammal on Earth.Brown BearUrsus arctosOne of the largest land carnivores in North America, a humped, long-clawed bear found across three continents.American Black BearUrsus americanusThe smallest and most widespread North American bear, a good tree climber that comes in black, brown, cinnamon, blonde and even white.American BisonBison bisonA huge, shaggy grazer of North America that once numbered in the tens of millions and nearly disappeared.

Wild Australia (2)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeAustralia's largest bird, a shaggy flightless runner whose fathers hatch the eggs and raise the chicks.Common WallarooOsphranter robustusA shaggy, rock-loving member of the kangaroo family found across most of Australia.

Flamingo Plaza (3)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

Lesser FlamingoPhoeniconaias minorThe world's smallest flamingo, which filters tiny algae from salty lakes and gathers in flocks of tens of thousands.Hadada IbisBostrychia hagedashA gray-brown African ibis with shiny green-purple wings, named for its loud "haa-haa-haa-de-dah" call.African SpoonbillPlatalea albaA pure white African wading bird with a red face and legs and a long, spoon-shaped bill for sweeping up fish.

Children's Zoo (24)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

New Guinea Walking StickEurycantha calcarataA big, bulky, spiny stick insect from New Guinea that looks like a piece of bark and hides in groups by day.Eastern Box TurtleTerrapene carolinaA land turtle of the eastern United States that can close its shell like a box and may live more than 100 years.Shetland SheepOvis aries (Shetland breed)A small, hardy sheep breed from Scotland's Shetland Isles that comes in more colors than almost any other breed.Madagascar Reed FrogHeterixalus madagascariensisA tiny pale blue frog with a black face stripe and orange feet that lives in drier areas of northeastern Madagascar.Florida Red-Bellied TurtlePseudemys nelsoniA Florida freshwater turtle with a reddish belly that sometimes lays its eggs in alligator nests for protection.American AlligatorAlligator mississippiensisA big, armored reptile of the southeastern U.S. swamps and rivers that can go through 3,000 teeth in its life.Aldabra TortoiseAldabrachelys giganteaOne of the world's largest tortoises, from the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, which can weigh 550 pounds and may live 150 years.African Spurred TortoiseCentrochelys sulcata (also called Geochelone sulcata)The largest mainland African tortoise, a burrowing plant-eater of the dry lands south of the Sahara, also called the sulcata tortoise.Western Black WidowLatrodectus hesperusA shy, venomous North American spider whose shiny black females have a red hourglass mark on the belly.Madagascar Hissing CockroachGromphadorhina portentosaA large, wingless cockroach from Madagascar that hisses by pushing air out of its breathing holes.Desert Blonde TarantulaAphonopelma chalcodesA big, hairy tarantula of the Southwest deserts whose bite is about like a bee sting.Black Beauty Walking StickPeruphasma schulteiA critically endangered black stick insect with yellow eyes and red wings, found in the wild in one tiny patch of Peru.Starry Night Reed FrogHeterixalus alboguttatusA small Madagascar frog whose dark back is covered in yellow spots like a starry sky.

Poison Dart FrogsFamily Dendrobatidae (about 220 species)A family of about 220 tiny, brightly colored rainforest frogs whose bold colors warn predators that their skin is poisonous.Panamanian Golden FrogAtelopus zetekiA bright golden, poisonous frog that is Panama's symbol of good luck. It has not been seen in the wild since 2009 and survives in zoo breeding programs.

Ring-Tailed LemurLemur cattaAn endangered primate of southwestern Madagascar with a black-and-white striped tail, female-led troops and a love of sunbathing.North American River OtterLontra canadensisA playful, streamlined otter of North American rivers and wetlands that slides, swims and eats up to a fifth of its weight each day.Malayan Flying FoxPteropus vampyrusOne of the biggest bats in the world, a fruit-eating Southeast Asian bat with a wingspan of about 5 feet.Island Flying FoxPteropus hypomelanusA fruit bat of Southeast Asia's islands that spreads seeds and pollinates flowers as it feeds at night.Guinea HogSus scrofa domesticus (Guinea hog breed)A small, black American heritage pig breed known for its intelligence and calm temperament.Domestic RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus (domestic)The pet and farm rabbit, descended from the wild European rabbit and bred into many sizes and colors.Domestic GoatCapra hircusOne of the oldest farm animals, a curious, climbing grazer that comes in many breeds, sizes and colors.Crowned LemurEulemur coronatusA small, fruit-eating lemur of northern Madagascar whose males and females look so different they were once easy to tell apart at a glance.Giant African MillipedeArchispirostreptus gigasThe largest millipede on Earth, a foot-long East African forest recycler that curls into a spiral when threatened.

Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Room (12)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

Green Spiny LizardSceloporus malachiticusA bright green, spiny-scaled lizard of southern Mexico and Central America that gives birth to live young.Black Tree MonitorVaranus beccariiA sleek, shiny black monitor lizard from Indonesia's Aru Islands that climbs with sharp claws and a grasping tail.Spotted TurtleClemmys guttataA small, endangered black turtle of eastern North America sprinkled with yellow spots that help it hide among duckweed.Henkel's Leaf-Tailed GeckoUroplatus henkeliA Madagascar gecko whose flat, leaf-shaped tail and bark-colored skin make it nearly invisible on tree trunks.Gila MonsterHeloderma suspectumThe largest lizard native to the United States, a black-and-pink venomous desert lizard whose venom led to diabetes medicines.Common ChuckwallaSauromalus aterA chunky desert lizard of the American Southwest that wedges itself into rock cracks by puffing up its body.Boa ConstrictorBoa constrictorA large, nonvenomous snake of Central and South America, also called the red-tailed boa, that squeezes its prey.Green AnoleAnolis carolinensisA small lizard of the southeastern U.S. that can change color from bright green to brown.Blue Spiny LizardSceloporus cyanogenysA rough-scaled lizard of Texas and Mexico whose males have bright blue sides, throats and bellies.Amazon Tree BoaCorallus hortulanaA slender, many-colored tree boa of South America that hangs from branches in an S shape to ambush prey.Amazon Milk FrogTrachycephalus resinifictrixA bumpy gray-and-brown rainforest tree frog that oozes a milky, poisonous liquid when threatened.Green MantellaMantella viridisA small, bright yellow-green Madagascar frog whose colors warn predators that it may be poisonous.

House of Bugs (13)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

White-Spotted Assassin BugPlatymeris biguttataA black African assassin bug with two big white spots that stabs insect prey with its beak and injects digestive juices.Dubia RoachBlaptica dubiaA South American forest cockroach that eats fruit and is widely raised as food for zoo and pet reptiles.Blue Death-Feigning BeetleCryptoglossa verrucosaA pale blue desert beetle from the southwestern U.S. that flops over and plays dead when startled.Emperor ScorpionPandinus imperatorOne of the world's largest scorpions, a shiny black West African scorpion that glows under UV light and uses its huge pincers more than its sting.Garden Fruit ChaferPachnoda sinuataA brown-and-yellow African scarab beetle that eats fruit and flowers and whose grubs help build soil.Golden Silk OrbweaverTrichonephila clavipes (also called Nephila clavipes)A large American spider whose golden silk is stronger than steel for its weight.Orchid MantisHymenopus coronatusA pink-and-white Southeast Asian praying mantis that looks like an orchid flower and ambushes the insects that visit it.Desert Blonde TarantulaAphonopelma chalcodesA big, hairy tarantula of the Southwest deserts whose bite is about like a bee sting.Jungle NymphHeteropteryx dilatataA big, thorny, leaf-green stick insect of tropical rainforests whose females snap their spiny back legs together in defense.Giant CockroachBlaberus speciesA big, glossy tropical cockroach from Central and South America that grows three inches long and helps break down dead plants.Noble False WidowSteatoda nobilisA spider from the Canary Islands and Madeira that has spread widely, and is often mistaken for a dangerous black widow.Green Bottle Blue TarantulaChromatopelma cyanopubescensA colorful tarantula from Venezuela's Paraguaná Peninsula and one of the few naturally blue animals.Dairy Cow IsopodPorcellio laevisA black-and-white spotted pill bug relative that breaks down dead leaves and helps clean up soil.

Animal Ambassadors (12)

See this area on the zoo's website ↗

Kenyan Sand BoaEryx colubrinusA short, stout East African boa that buries itself in sand with only its eyes peeking out, waiting to ambush prey.Common Blue-Tongued SkinkTiliqua scincoidesA chunky Australian lizard that sticks out a bright blue tongue to scare predators.Rosy BoaLichanura trivirgataOne of the smallest boas, a calm, striped desert snake of Southern California, Arizona and Mexico.California KingsnakeLampropeltis californiaeA shiny banded snake of the western U.S. that eats other snakes, including rattlesnakes, and is immune to their venom.Ornate UromastyxUromastyx ornataA colorful, plant-eating Middle Eastern lizard with a spiky tail that it uses to block its burrow.Pacific Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer cateniferA long, harmless West Coast snake that looks a lot like a rattlesnake but has no rattle, and hunts rodents in their burrows.Red-Tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisNorth America's most common hawk, often seen perched on poles along highways watching for rodents.Mojave Desert TortoiseGopherus agassiziiCalifornia's state reptile, a burrowing tortoise of the southwestern deserts that is now critically endangered.Hermann's TortoiseTestudo hermanniA small, domed European tortoise with a black-and-yellow patterned shell that sleeps through the cold months.Chaco Golden Knee TarantulaGrammostola pulchripesA large, dark brown South American tarantula with golden bands around its knees.California Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma californienseA big black salamander with yellow spots that lives in ground-squirrel burrows and breeds in seasonal pools in central California.Lesser Hedgehog TenrecEchinops telfairiA small, spiny, insect-eating mammal of Madagascar that looks like a hedgehog but is more closely related to moles and shrews.