Alerts

Please note February 3^rd to February 4^th 2023, Zoomobile may be experiencing closures and delays due to weather and unforeseen circumstances.

Please note that due to the cold temperatures expected, the Conservation Carousel will be closed on Saturday, February 4.

Please also note our Zoomobile will now be taking an alternate route through the Eurasia Wilds and will no longer be travelling through the Eurasia Drive Thru.

Please note the following animals that may not be viewable at this time:

Americas Pavilion
Two-toed sloth, golden lion tamarin, white-faced saki, river otter, Eastern loggerhead shrike, and black-footed ferret are all currently not viewable due to habitat maintenance.

Eurasia Wilds
The Stellar Sea Eagles are currently not viewable.

Canadian Domain:
Closed for the season.

African Savanna:
Some animals may not be viewable due to decreasing temperatures.

Kids Zoo
Closed for the season.

Saturday, February 25 - Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause 5K/1K Run/Walk

Please be advised that your Toronto Zoo and Canada Running Series will be hosting the Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause 5K/1K Run/Walk at the Zoo on February 25^th to raise funds for the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy and polar bear conservation.

Please note the following operational impacts:

For their well-being, some animals along the Move Your Paws route may be delayed going out on habitat in the morning. Guests may experience slight delays on other pathways as the run finishes and the race route is cleared.
- Tundra Trek: Caribou will not be visible and the path to the Caribou habitat will be closed for the entire day
Zoomobile: Begins operating at 11:45 am

Fish

Location at the Zoo:
Australasia
Region: Australasia

Longnose butterflyfish

The longnose butterflyfish has a bright yellow body, adorned with a black eye-spot on the anal fin (close to the caudal peduncle). The body is compressed. Directly behind the pectoral fin is a lighter, white area. The snout of the long nose butterfly is quite long. It is thin, and the mouth opening is quite small. The color of its head is divided horizontally. The upper half, at the very top of the mouth through the top of the head, is black. The lower half is silvery white. The dorsal spines are long and jagged. Over the eye, you can see a disruptive black bar. These fish can reach up to 18 to 23 centimetres in length.

Conservation Status: IUCN

Distribution:

It is found in many places around the world: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island; throughout Micronesia. Eastern Pacific: southern Baja California, Mexico and from the Revillagigedo and Galapagos Islands.

Habitat:

Found at depths between 1 and 30 metres, in areas with abundant corals; as it picks in between coral heads with its long snout.

Diet:

These fish feed on small invertebrates, plankton, fish eggs, and various other items that they find scavenging in tiny cracks or crevices of coral reefs.

Reproduction:

They are pelagic spawners which means they gather in groups in areas where the fertilized eggs will be taken by the currents. The eggs float in the epipelagic zone (sunlit zone near the ocean surface) until the larvae hatch. The larvae live in the plankton layer up to two months. When they reach a certain size, they swim down at night to a reef and join that ecosystem. While floating around, larvae are covered in bony armor, often with serrated or saw-like spines sticking out.

Adaptation:

The long nose, which gives the longnose butterflyfish its name, aids it in the search for food.

Threats to Survival:

Pollution of water, destruction of reefs, and collection for the aquarium trade.