There are two ringed teals (Callonetta leucophrys) that make their home in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, spending most of their time in the pond. Ringed teals are one of the smallest duck species at around 15 inches long. The male's name is Mendel. He can be identified by his salmon-colored breast, chestnut back and black band along the back of the head. The female, Tendril, has a brown colored back, a brown and white striped head and pale-colored chest and belly. Both have an iridescent dark green wing patch and pink webbed feet.

These ducks are on loan from the Denver Zoo. They are fed daily a diet of mealworms, specialized bird food and green vegetables.

In the wild, ringed teals are native to the wetlands of South America from southern Bolivia, Paraguay and southwestern Brazil to northeastern Argentina and Uruguay.