Staten Island Zoo is a compact family attraction in West New Brighton, with enough animals and exhibits to justify a half-day if you are exploring the borough. It has long been known for reptiles, especially snakes, but also keeps mammals, birds, and hands-on exhibits aimed at younger visitors.
It is not on the scale of the Bronx Zoo, which is the city's major zoo, but that is part of the appeal: Staten Island Zoo is easier to manage with children and pairs well with the Staten Island Museum or a wider borough outing.