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:
Indo-Malaya
Region: Indomalaya

Tri-colour shark

The tri-colour shark is an elongated slender fish with a slightly down facing mouth with no barbels. It has an attractive silver colour, slightly darker towards the top and lighter towards the underbelly, with a slightly golden sheen to the sides. The dorsal fin is triangular and erect (the reason for its common name), and like the other fins and tail, edged with a wide black band, with the front areas being white or golden. The pectoral fins are transparent. These fish grow up to 35 cm and can live up to six years in captivity. They are not related to sharks but are members of the carp and minnow families.

Conservation Status: IUCN

Distribution:

Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra and Malaysia.

Habitat:

Tri-colour sharks inhabit the tropical (22 - 28c) mid-water depths in large and medium size rivers and lakes.

Diet:

Omnivorous, feeding on worms, crustaceans, insects, and plant matter.

Reproduction:

There are no discernable differences between the sexes although the females tend to be larger and more full bellied. Little is known about their breeding habits but it is known that the females are egg scatterers.

Adaptation:

The genus name Balantiocheilus is derived from the Greek words balantio meaning pouch and cheilus meaning lip - describing their lower lip, which has a posterior groove forming a backwards-opening pocket. Larger fish in this genus make a clicking sound when they move their jaw to lengthen and widen the mouth. They use their mobile mouth to pick up gravel from the bottom to scrape off algae. Although they are referred to as sharks, this isn't because of their fearsome reputation. They are called sharks because they are very active and have a similar swimming pattern to marine sharks, as well as the torpedo-like body shape and high dorsal fin reminiscent of a shark. This sleek streamlining makes them both fast and agile.

Threats to Survival:

These fish have become rare or extinct in many river basins of its native range. In Danau Sentarum, Borneo fishermen reported in 1993 and 1995 that populations had decreased dramatically after 1975 for no clear reason. They suspected overfishing for the aquarium-fish trade or forest fires in 1975 and the resulting pollution as possible causes. The species is apparently extirpated in the Batang Hari basin, Sumatra and it appears that all tri-colour sharks exported from Indonesia and Thailand by the aquarium-fish trade are captive bred.