Built in the same Romanesque/Art Deco style as the rest of the major buildings in the original footprint of the zoo, I couldn't help but notice details like the round King Arthur-esque chandeliers that where the same as those found in the Aviary. Both buildings having been renovated, surely it was an updated original fixture restored or faithfully replicated to retain the authenticity and continuity through the years. Another detail were these beautifully crafted wooden railings that extended from the base of the inserted habitats along the walls. The were so elegant and harmonious that I didn't even notice them until I overheard another visitor, a woman in a wheelchair, comment on their unobtrusive efficiency at providing a buffer between the glass of the habitats and guests with a penchant for tapping on the windows.
I look for common species, keenly aware of the coordination between AZA accredited institutions and SSP's (Species Survival Programs), found at other zoos. Especially those that are uncommon in the wild like: Fiji Island Iguana's (Brachylophus fasciatus) and Gaboon Vipers (Bitis gabonica). But, of course, of even greater interest are those reptiles that are rare in the wild and/or uncommon in other zoos of my acquaintance. The Toledo Zoo offered up a couple.
The elusive Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) for one. While not on a conservation watch list, this New Zealand native holds a distinct place in the stratum of the reptilian taxonomic structure. While it looks like a lizard, it is in fact a separate branch entirely. Simply put, it is a tuatara, and on it's branch there is only one species: the tuatara. Of the stand alone characteristics that earns the tuarara this unique placement, the presence of a vestigial third eye in the middle of its forehead is my favorite.
The other stand out discovery was the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Long gone are the days when major zoos use the precious gator habitats for species like the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) or the Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). With the fate of so many lesser known species hanging in the balance, you will almost always find that zoos house SSP animals instead. Native to northern Australia to Western India and back eastward across the nations of Indochina to the Philippines and all parts in between, it may not be endangered, but it certainly is exotic.
As Herpetariums go this one is spacious with excellently designed habitats flush with live flora and natural geological elements. It offers a wide range of animals in well-lit and well-maintained habitats. It wasn't too little and it wasn't too much, it was in the Goldilocks zone for sure!
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