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ABQ BioPark Animals Featured in National Geographic Photo Ark

Photographer Joel Sartore captured images of fish, birds, reptiles and arthropods.

March 6, 2019 - In December, the National Geographic Photo Ark celebrated the addition of its 9,000th animal to the series, which features stunning glimpses of the world's endangered animals.

Joel Sartore, photographer and founder of Photo Ark, visited the ABQ BioPark in early 2017 to photograph 55 species for the photo series. According to Sartore’s website, “Our hope is that people will look these creatures in the eyes, and be inspired to care, while there is still time.”

Sartore’s work at the ABQ BioPark included capturing stunning photographs of various BUGarium residents, birds, reptiles and fish. You can view some of his BioPark captures and buy prints on his website.

“It was an honor to host Joel, a world-renowned wildlife photographer,” said Lynn Tupa, Zoo manager. “The ABQ BioPark is pleased to have animals from the Zoo, Aquarium, BUGarium and Aquatic Conservation Facility featured in his Photo Ark.”

Species Captured by Sartore at the ABQ BioPark

Birds

Gambel's Quail_Joel Sartore, National Geographic

  • Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)
  • Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Reptiles

Northern Mexican Garter Snake_Joel Sartore, National Geographic

  • Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops)
  • Black necked spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis)
  • Banded water cobra (Naja annulata formerly Boulengerina annulata)
  • NM milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops)
  • Columbian lancehead (Bothrops colombiensis)
  • Greater short horned lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi)
  • Dunes sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus graciosus arenicolus)
  • Eastern skink (Scincus mitranus)
  • Greater short-horned lizard

Aquarium

Rio Grande Chub_Joel Sartore, National Geographic

  • Long nose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae)
  • Flat head chub (Platygobio gracilis)
  • Rio Grande chub (Gila Pandora)
  • Fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas)
  • Small mouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus)
  • Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis)
  • Sunshine fish (Chromis insolata)
  • Sergeant major (Abudefduf saxatilis)
  • Reef squirrelfish (Sargocentron coruscum)
  • Yellowtail damsel (Chrysiptera parasema)
  • Butter hamlet (Hypoplectrus unicolor)
  • Razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus)
  • Flamefish (Apogon maculatus)
  • Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus)

Aquatic Conservation Facility

Tamaulipas shiner_Joel Sartore, National Geographic

  • Rio Grande blue sucker (Cycleptus sp. undescribed)
  • Gray redhorse (Moxostoma congestum)
  • Tamaulipas Shiner (Notropis braytoni)

BUGarium

Thistle Mantis_Joel Sartore, National Geographic

  • Extinct Cockroach (Simandoa conserfarium)
  • Aussie Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
  • Mega Mantis (Plistospilota guineensis)
  • Peacock Mantis (Pseudempusa pinnapavonis)
  • Golden Asian Mantis (Hierodula sp.)
  • Thistle Mantis (Blepharopsis mendica)
  • Flower Mantis (Creobater gemmatus)
  • Griffin Mantis (Polyspilota griffinii)
  • Honeypot Ant (Myrmecocystus mexicanus)
  • Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus sp.)
  • Ferocious Water Bug (Abedus sp.)
  • Water Scorpion (Ranatra sp.)
  • Red Backswimmer (Notonecta lobata)
  • Whirligig Beetle (Dineutus sp.)
  • Mottled Diving Beetle (Thermonectus nigrofasciatus)
  • Predacious Diving Beetle (Cybister sp.)
  • Blue Crayfish (Orconectes sp.)
  • Atlas Beetle (Chalcosoma caucasus)
  • Scorpions/Whip scorpions
  • Dune Scorpion (Smeringurus mesaensis)
  • Tanzanian Tailless Whip Scorpion (Damon diadema)
  • Amazonian Tailless Whip Scorpion (Heterophrynus batesii)
  • Six-eyed Sand Spider (Sicarius sp.)
  • Brazilian Blue & Red Pink-toe Tarantula (Avicularia geroldi)
  • Skeleton Tarantula (Ephebopus murinus)
  • Thailand Black Tarantula (Haplopelma minax)
  • Vietnamese Earth Tiger Tarantula (Haplopelma vonwirthi)
  • Mozambique Baboon Tarantula (Augacephalus ezendami)

Note: All photos belong to Joel Sartore/National Geographic Photo Ark.