Animal Opposites at Disney
BY DANNY SHUSTER
Walt Disney World is home to a wide range of animals — and though some are distant relatives , you might not know it by their sheer size differences .
BROWN ANOLE VS . KOMODO DRAGON
Anole lizards — those teeny-tiny brown creatures often scurrying underfoot at Disney — are a fraction of the size of Disney ’ s mighty Komodo dragon , Sheldon . Anoles typically measure 5 to 9 inches when fully grown and eat insects ; the Komodo dragon ( see Sheldon on Animal Kingdom ’ s Maharajah Jungle Trek ) can grow up to 10 feet ( snout to tail ) and are apex predators in their ecosystems .
PHOTOS BY DANNY SHUSTER
OKAPI VS . GIRAFFE Despite their seemingly familiar striped hindquarters , okapis are not related to zebras . Rather , they ’ re the only living relatives of giraffes , despite the size difference . Okapis typically stand about 5 feet tall at the shoulder ; their giraffe cousins can reach up to 18 feet . See both on Kilimanjaro Safaris .
PHOTOS BY DANNY SHUSTER
PYGMY GEESE VS . OSTRICH
Find the diminutive pygmy goose on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at Animal Kingdom . This adorable bird is one of the smallest waterfowl in the world : A fully grown goose weighs in at a paltry 10 ounces . In contrast , the ostrich ( look for them on Kilimanjaro Safaris ) is the world ’ s largest living bird and can weigh more than 300 pounds .
PHOTOS BY LAURIE SAPP AND JUDD HELMS
COTTON-TOP TAMARINS VS . WESTERN LOWLAND GORILLAS
Stop by the cotton-top tamarin enclosure on your next trip to Animal Kingdom . These playful primates are as cute as they are pint-sized . A fully grown tamarin might get up to 1 pound — a drop in the bucket compared to the mighty gorillas , who tip the scales at more than 400 pounds .
PHOTOS BY DANNY SHUSTER