Tiktaalik

Animal group: Sarcopterygii.
Age: 375 million years ago.
Period: Devonian.
Range: Canada.
Length: 0.9 to 2.7 meters.
Diet: Carnivore.
Number in park: Four animals, sex unknown so far.
Danger level: Calm, but can give a nasty bite.

When the board had decided to include tiktaalik in the park the researchers had trouble obtaining the fossil that could be used to provide the DNA neccesary to clone this animal. Eventually the scientists managed to make contact with the institution harbouring a few fossils. Upon hatching, they young tiktaalik looked like a small fry, alot smaller than what the scientists had predicted. This lead to quite a big loss during the first critical days, but after that the remaining animals flourished. As they grew they started to exhibit the blend of fish and tetrapod characteristics that this species is so famous for. They have scales covering their bodies, fins, primitive lungs and gills like a fish, but a neck, ribs, arm bones and a headshape that resemebles that of an amphibian.

Tiktaalik originally lived in shallow rivers and ponds, and their lungs allow them to gulp air if the water becomes starved of oxygen. They actually keep surfacing for air at the park despite their water being oxygenated, so it's thought that tiktaalik can't sustain itself completely by only breathing with its gills. They use their strong front fins to lift themselves up from the gound, and they can actually walk on land for short periods of time. Usuallly they only walk between different pools, to escape predators in the water or to walk away from the keepers during a medical checkup. They often swim with the top of their heads poking out of the water, almost like a crocodile.
The enclosure is filled with several small ponds and rivers, to allow visitors to see tiktaalik move across stretches of land on it's fins. They can't handle the cool African nights though and has to be kept indoors all year round.

TRIVIA
Due to their sharp teeth, caution must be taken during feeding sessions since the animals get so excited that they easily grab hold of a hand instead of the food. Since this is often followed by a forceful tug by the animal, the injury can become quite severe.