Florida is home to numerous species of plants, birds, reptiles, fish, mammals and insects. Over spring break, I was given the opportunity to photograph some of the wildlife that populates the sunshine state. While some of these creatures you can see in and around bodies of water in Utah, most of them you will have to travel to see in person, something I highly recommend you do.
Common name: Laughing Gull Scientific name: Leucophaeus atricilla Type: Bird Diet: Crustaceans, insects and fish. Fun fact: Laughing Gulls are named for their laugh like call. Source: Audubon.org
Common name: American Alligator Scientific name: Alligator mississippiensis Type: Reptile Diet: Carnivores Full grown size: 10 to 15 ft. Weight: Up-to 1,000 lbs Fun fact: Once on the endangered species list, the American Alligator has since recovered in numbers and was removed from the list in 1987. Source: National Geographic
Common name: Parrotfish Scientific name: Scaridae Type: Fish Diet: Omnivores Average lifespan: 7 years Fun fact: Much of the sand in the Parrotfish’s range is actually the ground-up, undigested coral they excrete. Source: National Geographic
Common name: Barracuda Scientific name: Sphyraenidea Type: Fish Diet: Fish Average full-grown size: 4-6 ft. Fun fact: A Barracuda killed Nemo’s Mom. Source: Encyclopeadia Britannica
Common name: Manatee Scientific name: Trichechus Type: Mammal Diet: Herbivores Average lifespan: 40 years Full grown size: 8 to 13 ft Weight: Up to 13,000 lbs Fun Fact: Despite their large size, Manatees have very little fat. Bonus Fact: Manatees are on the endangered species list. Source: National Geographic
Common name: Great Blue Heron Scientific name: Ardea herodias Type: Bird Diet: Carnivores Average lifespan: 15 years Wingspan: 5.5 to 6 ft Fun fact: Great Blue Herons can choke by eating fish that are too big. Source: National Geographic
Common name: Spotted Sandpiper Scientific name: Actitis macularius Type: Bird Diet: Insects, crustaceans, other invertebrates. Fun Fact: The Spotted Sandpiper travels north during spring and summer months to mate and then returns to the south in the winter. Source: Audubon.org
Story By
Mitchell Quartz
outside@suunews.com
