We would like to introduce a small selection of the abundant animal kingdom to be found at the Biopshere Potsdam. Come to Potsdam’s colourful tropical world and experience birds, reptiles, amphibian, fishes, spiders and insects in our jungle.

HABITAT
All species live in the coral reefs of the tropical Indo Pacific Ocean, in depths from 1 to 15 metres.

CHARACTERISTICS
The clownfish or anemonefish is a genus of the Pomacentridae living in close symbiosis with sea anemone. However, individual genera of the fish coexist only with certain genera of symbiosis anemone. Anemonefish are all bad swimmers therefore the sea anemone offers their symbiosis partners protection from predators, e.g. butterflyfish.

REPRODUCTION
All anemonefish are born as males. They live in Polyandry, i.e. one female with several males, in either one sea anemone or a small group of sea anemones. The dominant, largest animal in a sea anemone is always the only female in the group. When the female dies, the strongest male changes sex to become a female within a week. The eggs are laid near the foot of the sea anemone. Prior to spawning, the male cleans any substrate at the foot of the sea anemone. For the next seven to eight days after the eggs have been laid, the male keeps the batch clean using his pectoral fins. The eggs are orange in colour, on average about 250 eggs per lay. The larvae hatch out after a week, at first in a planktonic state, yet striving to remain as close as possible to their place of birth. The larval stage lasts two to three weeks. After that the fry move on to the next coral reef in search of a sea anemone. 

EATING HABITS
Anemonefish grow up to eight and 15 centimetres long and feed on zooplankton, some also on algae.

HABITAT
This insect originates from the Annam region in Vietnam, hence its common name Annam Walking Stick.

CHARACTERISTICS
The females grow to a maximum 110 millimetres long and have obviously shorter antennae as the males. The males grow up to 75 millimetres in length. They are much smaller and much thinner than the females. Annam Walking Sticks do not have wings. Their basic colour ranges from grey-brown to beige, but in seldom cases also dark brown or green.
They are active at night, and start looking for food after dark, avoiding any unnecessary movement during the day. If disturbed and forced to move, then it is done in a gently sideways swaying manner, imitating a branch in the wind. However, they can run very fast if disturbed, especially the males.

HABITAT
Lovebirds are native to tropical Africa. Together with the long-winged parrots and the Vasa parrots, endemic of Madagascar, are typical parrot species of the Afrotropic ecozone. "

CHARACTERISTICS
The Lovebirds are a species of small African parrots. Their name derives from their very strong pair bonding, which usually last a life long. Their extreme affectionate social behaviour (cuddling, grooming, etc.) is the reason for them being called “Lovebirds”. The birds are 13 – 18 cm long and weigh about 50 Kg. Their plumage is mainly green or yellow-green. Apart from the green-headed Lovebirds, most species have strikingly colourful heads and breasts. This colouring usually reflects in their given names. The green-headed Lovebird has a black collar instead.

REPRODUCTION
After mating, the female will lay one egg every two days. On average each batch consists of 3 – 5 eggs. The nest-building and brood care is the female’s responsibility. The male, however, remains close by and feed her regularly. The female will occasionally leave the nest for a short time, to either have a drink or defecate. The eggs hatch after about three weeks. They are naked and blind and are fed and warmed by the female during the first weeks, and then the male takes over the feeding. The chicks are independent enough and able to fly at eight weeks.

EATING HABITS
Lovebirds feed on seeds, nuts, berries and other fruit as well as occasionally on insects and larvae. Their beaks are very strong and can also crack open hard nuts.