Buin Zoo Artropodario

[urbpan]

Many zoos have arthropod exhibits (bug zoos). I liked Buin Zoo's a lot. The exhibit rooms were dark, to encourage normal behavior from these often secretive animals. So dark that photography was difficult, but by setting the camera on macro and actually resting the lens on the exhibit glass, I got a couple decent shots.








These animals were rendered in contrasting concrete.


Most bug zoos offer some Madagascar roaches, some tarantulas, and maybe a giant millipede or too. Buin zoo seemed to be trying to teach, rather than simply to amaze. They included a great range of species, including many native Chilean ones, and many that might be dismissed as insignificant, like these beetles.


Of course, I mostly tried to photograph the amazing ones. The female here (being ridden by the male, correct?) is six inches long or so.







cross-posted to invertebrates, zookeepers