Planet Zoo is the latest management game from Frontier, the creators of Planet Coaster and Jurassic World Evolution, and it's been confirmed for a release date of Autumn/Fall 2019. We thought it might be useful to know what animals you'll be expected to manage in your zoos, so here's the full Planet Zoo animal list as we currently know it.
There are over 70 animals of all shapes and sizes in the final game, and we'll be updating this list as more get revealed. It contains the official list as it appears in the in-game Zoopedia. Here are all animals we know about in Planet Zoo!
Planet Zoo Animal List - All animals we know about so far
Aardvark
Aardvarks might not look like it but they're quite the night owls. Native to Africa, these burrowing mammals have a long snout with which they catch their insect prey. They'll probably get angry if you confuse them with anteaters.
African Buffalo
Hailing from Sub-Saharan Africa, the African Buffalo happens to be the largest member of the cow family found in the African wild. The distinct shape of its horns makes it easy to spot.
African Elephant
The African Elephant also hails from Sub-Saharan Africa. Both males and females can grow tusks and are known both for their intelligence and the strong social bonds they develop.
African Wild Dog
Mid-sized pack animals found in Sub-saharan Africa, African Wild Dogs have a very interesting process of voting through sneezing. The more dogs in a pack that sneeze, the more likely they are to go hunting.
Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Hailing from the Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles, the Aldabra Giant Tortoise is a herbivore that also happens to be one of the largest tortoises in the world.
Amazonian Giant Centipede
A predatory arthropod native to the forests of South America and the Caribbean, the Amazonian Giant Centipede can catch and kill several animals using its venom, going as far as developing specific techniques for taking down certain kinds of prey.
American Bison
A large ungulate native to the USA and Canada, the American Bison was hunted to near extinction in the 19th century. Their large head, shoulder hump and shaggy coat sets them apart.
Bactrian Camel
Native to Central Asia, the Bactrian Camel is easily recognize thanks to its two humps. There are two types of Bactrian Camels: domesticated and wild. The latter, however, is critically endangered.
Baird's Tapir
Native to the woodlands of Central America, the Baird's Tapir dons a dark brown to black coat, pale chin and chest. It is an endangered animal due to deforestation destroying its habitat.
Bengal Tiger
Revealed, appropriately enough during International Tiger Day, the Bengal Tiger happens to have the largest teeth of any cat species and can live in many environments, from grassland to mangroves. It dons an orange coat with black or brown stripes and might very well be the go-to image when you hear the word tiger.
Black Wildebeest
Also known as the Gnu, name based on the sound it makes when alarmed, the Black Wildebeest is a large African ungulate with horns that curve forward forming an L shape.
Boa Constrictor
A large South American snake, the Boa Constrictor's pattern and color are quite varied, depending on where they are from. In Planet Zoo, it is an Exhibit animal, meaning it arrives at your zoo already contained in a glass terrarium. Its entire species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males but having smaller pelvic spurs.
Bongo
The Bongo is a forest-dwelling antelope found in the woodlands of Central Africa. Secretive by nature, it's easily distinguishable thanks to its spiraling, vertical horns.
Bonobo
Found in the forests and wetlands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Bonobo is one of two types of ape that has the most DNA common with us humans. They are playful and peaceful.
Bornean Orangutan
The Bornean Orangutan is a large Southeast Asian primate with an omnivore diet. Native to the island of Borneo, they share around 97% of their DNA with humans. Mature males can be distinguished by their large cheek pads and throat pouches used in attracting females.
Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula
There be spiders in my zoo game! The Brazilian Salmon Pink Tarantula is a large spider endemic to the Atlantic Forest area found in East Brazil. They're mostly black with red or pink hairs growing on their legs and abdomen.
Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider gets its name because they wander around at night hunting for prey instead of making a web. Their venomous bites lead to loss of muscle control and breathing problems, resulting in paralysis and eventual asphyxiation. These bites can also cause painful erections. These spiders can be killed with fire and lots of it. In the game, though, you'll just be looking after them.
Cheetah
Found in the savannahs and dry woodlands of Central and Southern Africa, the Cheetah happens to enjoy meat quite a bit. It can reach speeds of up to 112 kph when hunting prey. If you're an antelope you'll probably want to stay as far away from them as possible.
Chinese Pangolin
A small and slow-moving insectivore living native to areas like India, Nepal and Bhutan, the Chinese Pangolin is critically endangered due to the unfounded belief that its distinctive scales have medical properties.
Common Death Adder
The Common Death Adder is a venomous snake with a triangular head found in Eastern and Southern Australia. One of the most venomous snakes in the world, it is threatened by the invasive cane toad species.
Common Ostrich
The Common Ostrich is a large flightless bird native to certain areas in Africa. Predominantly herbivore, it's known to also eat invertebrates and live in nomadic groups of 5 to 50 individuals. It is the largest known bird species on our list of all animals in Planet Zoo and the world.
Common Warthog
A mid-sized African mammal, the Common Warthog is the only pig species that has managed to adapt to grazing and savanna habitats. They have large cartilaginous protrusions on their cheeks.
Eastern Brown Snake
A venomous snake found in Australia and New Guinea, the Eastern Brown Snake prefers dry areas, and is often found in grassland, scrubland and sparse forests.
Formosan Black Bear
A subspecies of the Asiatic Black Bear found in Taiwan, these stocky, predominantly black bears are easily recognized by their white V-shaped patch of fur on their chest. They're the second animal on our Planet Zoo animal list to be sexually dimorphic, with males being considerably larger than females.
Galapagos Giant Tortoise
Revealed to be part of Planet Zoo on World Turtle Day, the Giant Galapagos Tortoise is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and can have lifespans of over 100 years in the wild. They're split into two types: saddleback shelled, that have long necks and live in dry lowland areas and dome shelled, characterized by short necks and a preference for humid highland areas.
Gemsbok
Also known as the South African Oryx, these large antelopes boast some truly majestic, long, slim, spiraling horns, for which they are, unfortunately, hunted. They're also distinguished by their black face with white markings and grey coat with black markings on the upper legs and back. They can also be found on Namibia's coat of arms.
Gharial
The Gharial is a large Asian reptile hailing from the Indian subcontinent. Critically endangered, both river pollution and sandbanks vital for egg laying being destroyed by sand mining contributed to their dwindling numbers.
Giant Burrowing Cockroach
Native to the scrublands and dry forests of Northern Australia, the Giant Burrowing Cockroach's name comes from its habit of digging burrows in sandy earth. They're also quite a popular choice for pets.
Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion
An arachnid found in the deserts of the Southern USA and Mexico, the Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion spends lots of time buried beneath sand and under rocks, attacking prey using its stinger.
Giant Forest Scorpion
Found in the tropical rainforests of India and Sri Lanka, the Giant Forest Scorpion mainly uses its strong pincers to catch and crush prey, given how its venom is weak.
Giant Panda
Native to the mountains fo Central China, this large and loveable bear stands out thanks to its fur's distinctive black and white color pattern that gives it black legs, ears, and circles around its eyes. It feeds almost exclusively on bamboo which, as you can probably tell, means they're dependent on the existence of forests with plenty of bamboos.
Giant Tiger Land Snail
The hermaphroditic Giant Tiger Land Snail is found in West Africa's woodland areas and takes its name from the conical shell on its back that's yellow or orange with black stripes, reminding of tigers.
Gila Monster
A large venomous lizard native to the arid regions of the Southern United States and Northren Mexico, its keen sense of smell make it a veritable predator.
Golden Poison Frog
Endemic to the rainforests of Colombia's Pacific Coast, the Golden Poison Frog actually dons mint green, yellow or orange color variations. The bit about the poison, however, remains very true, its extremely poisonous skin being a prime defense against predators.
Goliath Beetle
Hailing from the savannah and rainforests in Central Africa, Goliath Beetle males and females are different in size, with the former also having a Y-shaped horn on its head.
Goliath Birdeater
Another spider on our Planet Zoo animal list, the Goliath Birdeater is a large South American arachnid that's also the largest spider in the world, at least by mass and size. Despite its name, it only rarely preys on birds and never spins its web for hunting.
Goliath Frog
True to its name, the Goliath Frog is an extremely large species found in the fast-flowing rivers and streams of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. It is endangered due to being hunted for food and its value in the pet trade.
Greater Flamingo
Ever-graceful and mesmerizing, the Greater Flamingo prefers the mudflats and coastal lagoons of temperate and warm environment. It is the first filter feeder on the Planet Zoo animal list, using its beak to stir out mud and filter algae, seeds and invertebrates.
Green Iguana
A mid-sized New World lizard, the Green Iguana uses head bobs and dewlaps as means of communicating with other iguanas. It was announced as one of Planet Zoo's Exhibit Animals on World Lizard Day.
Grizzly Bear
The type of brown bear common in North America, it is, in fact, a subspecies of the brown bear, hence the scientific name 'North American brown bear'. There are multiple sub-species of Grizzly, although the California Grizzly is now extinct.
Himalayan Brown Bear
The Himalayan Brown Bear likes high altitudes, being found in the mountains of areas like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northern India, West China, and Nepal. Sadly, habitat fragmentation and poaching have made them critically endangered.
Hippopotamus
The hippo is mostly herbivorous, semi-aquatic, native to sub-Saharan Africa, and can run at speeds of up to 30 km/h on land. They also kill more people per year than most other African animals, as despite their lazy appearance they are aggressive and unpredictable.
Indian Elephant
Smaller than its African counterpart, the Indian Elephant is a herbivore that can adapt to a variety of environments, from forests to grasslands and even mountains, feeding on tree leaves, bark and grasses.
Indian Peafowl
Also known as the Blue Peafowl, the bird used to be native to South Asia but was eventually introduced by humans worldwide. It probably won't surprise you to learn that the more common name 'Peacock' only applies to the male of the species.
Indian Rhinoceros
Hailing from the Asian subcontinent, the Indian Rhinoceros is yet another herbivore on the list of animals found in Planet Zoo. While both male and female adults boast the single horn, newborn young do not have it, as it takes time to grow.
Japanese Macaque
Endemic to the islands of Japan, the Japanese Macaque's ability to live in the snow forests of Japan gave it the name snow monkey. Donning a thick beige coat of fur, it can live in groups of 10 to 100 individuals.
Komodo Dragon
The Komodo Dragon is the largest living species of lizard, able to grow up to 3 meters in length. In Planet Zoo, it is one of three animals exclusive to the Deluxe Edition.
Lehmann's Poison Frog
The first amphibian revealed to be part of Planet Zoo's list of animals, the Lehmann's Poison Frog is found in a small area of Colombia, primarily feeding on small insects.
Lesser Antilean Iguana
The Lesser Antilean Iguana is the sister species of the Green Iguana, both being featured in Planet Zoo as part of its roster of herbivores. It can be distinguished by its predominantly grey color, green belly and white scales found around the jaw.
Mandrill
Mandrills used to be put in the same category as baboons, however, that's no longer the case. Hailing from areas such as Cameroon, Gabon and Congo, these primates live in tropical forests and prefer large groups.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
The Mexican Red Knee Tarantula is a nocturnal spider that spends its days in burrows, before going hunting at night. Donning a black body and legs, and orange-red coloration on its joints, it lives in the scrublands, deserts and forests of Mexico.
Nile Monitor
Originally found in the non-desert areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, Nile Monitors have since been introduced to the USA. They prefer living close to water, ideally rivers.
Nyala
An antelope living in the undergrowth of the South Eastern African savannah, they can be recognized by the white stripes on their backs but also their dark grey coat and twisted, yellow-tipped horns.
Okapi
The Okapi is large African ungulate native to the dense forests Democratic Republic of Congo. Secretive in nature, they have a recognizable appearance, donning a dark brown coat across their torso, grey-white face and white stripes across their hind legs.
Plains Zebra
Also known as the common zebra, due to it being the most widespread variety, the Plains Zebra is native to Eastern and Southern Africa, preferring to live in areas with easily reachable water sources. It's highly social and can form herds, but are preyed upon by most African predators.
Pronghorn Antelope
Although occupying a similar niche to antelopes, the Pronghorn Antelope isn't considered to be a "true" antelope. A North American mammal, it bears distinctive, white chevron-shaped marks on its neck.
Puff Adder
Another venomous snake on the list of Planet Zoo animals, the Puff Adder is very common in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. Its beige, brown and black scales form a pattern that grants it excellent camouflage capabilities.
Pygmy Hippopotamus
The Pygmy Hippopotamus is the second of Planet Zoo animals exclusive to its Deluxe Edition. Reclusive and nocturnal, it is a mid-sized African ungulate native to the forests and swamps of West Africa.
Red Panda
Not all animals in Planet Zoo are fierce and the Red Panda is clear proof of that. Hailing from the woodlands of the Himalayas and China, they're not closely related to the giant panda, despite its name. The love for bamboo, however, is something they do share.
Red Ruffed Lemur
Native to the Northern Masoala rainforests of Madagascar, the Red Ruffed Lemur's striking red coat contrasts its black face, tail hands and feet, as well as the white patch on top of its head.
Reticulated Giraffe
Also known as the Somali Giraffe, as it's based in Africa around Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, the Reticulated Giraffe is recognizable thanks to the polygonal spots on its body. While there is only one species of giraffe, there are nine sub-species - of which Reticulated is one, and is the most common type seen in zoos.
Ring-tailed Lemur
Present on Planet Zoo's animal list, the Ring-tailed Lemur can also be spotted in the game's trailers. All types of Lemur are primates native to Madagascar. The ring-tailed variety is highly social, and the female is the dominant gender. Suck it, Sacha Baron Cohen.
Sable Antelope
An ungulate found in South-Eastern Africa, the Sable Antelope's notched horns stand out due to how they're curving away from their face. It prefers lightly wooded areas to open ones.
Saltwater Crocodile
Found both in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, the Saltwater Crocodile is a carnivore that does not require fresh water. That's thanks to the salt glands on their head, capable of secreting excess salt that allows them to drink salty water.
Siberian Tiger
The Siberian Tiger is the largest, and possibly fiercest, of the cat species. The population numbers came as low as 40 individuals out in the while back in the 1940s, but has since recovered somewhat to a number of 560 individuals present in the wild.
Snow Leopard
Also known as the ounce, the Snow Leopard hails from the mountains of South and Central Asia and is one of the large cats you'll find in Planet Zoo. Its fur is thick and well insulated, vital qualities for living in areas with sub-zero temperatures.
Spotted Hyena
The Spotted Hyena, also known as the laughing hyena, is the most common large carnivore in Africa. It hunts alone as well as in smaller or larger packs but is also prone to behave like a scavenger.
Springbok
The Springbok is a medium-sized antelope whose name comes from its ability to perform multiple leaps, up to 2 meters above ground, in a stiff-legged posture. This especially occurs during mating season and is known as pronking.
Thomson's Gazelle
Thomson's Gazelle is the third and final animal exclusive to Planet Zoo's Deluxe Edition. Its coat sports a distinctive black band that runs across the animal's flanks
Timber Wolf
Also known as the Grey Wolf or Tundra Wolf, it's a type common in the Northern Hemisphere. Wolves actually rarely attack people, due to living far away from settlements and having a fear of mankind from hunters.
Titan Beetle
One of the largest known beetles, the South American Titan Beetle is one of Planet Zoo's Exhibit Animals.
West African Lion
Based in West Africa, Northern Central Africa and India, it's also on the critically endangered list. A Lion Conservation Strategy was set up in 2005 to protect them.
Western Chimpanzee
A subspecies of the common chimp, it inhabits Western Africa. It's listed as a critically endangered species, with only an estimated 21,300 to 55,600 left in the wild. They've been known to make wooden spears to hunt other primates and live in caves. Apes together, strong.
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Native to the deserts, grassland and scrubland of the USA and Mexico, this venomous snake gets its name from the patterns formed by the scales on its back.
Western Lowlands Gorilla
The black-skinned Western Lowlands Gorilla lives and forages in the rainforests, swamp forests and abandoned farmland in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and other countries.
Western Yellow Anaconda
Found in the southern regions of South America, the Western Yellow Anaconda is a non-venomous snake that uses constriction to kill its prey. The last on the list of animals found in Planet Zoo, it is also one of several Exhibit Animals.
For more on Planet Zoo, check out our first impressions of gameplay or the CGI trailer, which you can see below.
