The animal ambassadors at PAROC inspire visitors to learn more about their needs for survival and steps we can all take to help conserve these species in their native habitats.
![image-9.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56df34_7dc351ae117a4885b5df0df189327dc2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_151,y_0,w_1062,h_879/fill/w_414,h_343,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/image-9.jpg)
Ruby
Hi, my name is Ruby! I am a red-eared slider. (Trachemys scripta elegans)
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I was donated to Pitt state and then passed on to Emporia.
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I like attention and basking on my rock.
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I am semiaquatic, so I live on land and in water.
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I am naturally native to the southeast United states but can be found anywhere.
Life span: 30 - 40 years old. Sometimes longer in captivity.
Diet: Omnivores
Fun fact: We can communicate through vibrations
Conservation status: Low risk - Near threatened.
![Turtilina.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56df34_5bbaa093d8f24fdeab18a212d77bb4a9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_121,y_124,w_968,h_800/fill/w_104,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Turtilina.jpg)
Turtilina
Hi, my name is Turtilina. I am an ornate box turtle. (Terrapene ornata)
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We are Kansas’s state reptile!
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I was rescued by the maintenance staff here at ESU and have been here for 3 years.
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I lay eggs, and the gender is determined by the temperature at which the eggs are kept at.
Life span: 30 - 40 years (sometimes even longer!)
Diet: Omnivores, I really like strawberries.
Fun Fact: We are strictly terrestrial turtles. You can also tell our gender from our eye color, females have brown eyes and males have red.
Conservation status: Threatened due to habitat loss.
![IMG-0181.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56df34_97f36008bf1d4fd4a6d1fa3fdee1e442~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_246,y_0,w_836,h_688/fill/w_105,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IMG-0181.jpg)
Sammy
Hi, my name is Sammy. I am a great plains skink. (Plestiodon obsoletus)
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I like to dig and hide.
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I am found primarily in the Midwest and the south.
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I am very helpful to our environments by controlling insect and arachnid populations.
Life span: 3 - 8 years
Diet: Insects
Fun Fact: We are the largest species of skink in the United states.
Conservation status: Least concern
![image-10.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56df34_49d73755d7c4467d81ff9474da951f0d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_398,y_123,w_672,h_552/fill/w_105,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/image-10.jpg)
Fred and Pebbles
Hi, our names are Fred and Pebbles! We are gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor).
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We sometimes can be green, not just gray depending on where we live.
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We are very important to our environments because we eat a lot of bugs.
Life span: 7-9 years
Diet: Insectivores
Fun fact: When we hibernate we freeze our bodies and slow our breathing and heartbeat almost to a complete stop!
Conservation status: Least concerned, but could become more endangered as time goes on due to habitat loss.
![Black toad.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ff4f59_955fd1865ebe4c8fb38cc4f834a40348~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_108,y_0,w_926,h_760/fill/w_105,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Black%20toad.jpg)
Gherkin
Hi, my name is Gherkin! I am an American Toad. (Anaxyrus americanus)
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I am often confused with the woodhouse’s toad. You can tell us apart because I have spots on my belly.
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I produce a milky white “toxin” from my warty skin so that I taste bad to predators, but it can’t hurt you!
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Our skin can change colors due to temperature, humidity, or stress. It ranges from yellow to brown to black.
Life span: 0 - 10 years in the wild. 0 - 36 years in captivity.
Diet: Adults eat insects, snails, slugs, and earthworms.
Fun fact: In the wild I can eat up to 1,000 insects per day!
Conservation status: Least concerned.
![IMG-2131.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ff4f59_b82c00f1e0a74291b97bd543e514ad95~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_3681,h_3024/fill/w_105,h_86,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IMG-2131.jpg)
Axel
Hi, my name is Axel! I am an Axolotl. (Ambystoma mexicanum)
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My species is only naturally found in one place in the world, Xochimilco near Mexico City, Mexico. I am an amphibian.
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I can grow up to 9 - 12 inches long!
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I am a carnivore and will eat whatever I can catch.
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I am a very important research animal to scientists.
Life span: 10 - 15 years
Diet: Carnivore
Fun fact: I am paedomorphic (pe·do·mor·phic), this means I retain characteristics from when I was a larva!
My name means water dog in native Aztec language.
Conservation status: Critically endangered
Fish
We have a variety of fish here at PAROC.
These native fish species can be found in local freshwater habitats!
![image-14.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/56df34_a6a14e7ae9384e588ee0c7b8e3ab5cb0~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_150,y_140,w_934,h_556/fill/w_109,h_65,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/image-14.jpg)