Gold-Line Sea Goddess – iNaturalist In order to find nudibranchs, you must slowly search the bottom This ornate cryptic crawler is called a gold-line sea goddess. A gold-line sea goddess is a type of nudibranch. A nudibranch is a tiny sea slug. Just how tiny? Here is a photo of the gold-line sea goddess next to my finger. Being […]
Smooth Trunkfish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern These odd shaped swimmers will grow to about a foot long This interesting tropical fish is called a smooth trunkfish. This photograph was taken in Key Largo, on a shallow inshore reef. Smooth trunkfish are commonly seen in these waters as well as throughout Florida and the Caribbean. They are […]
Atlantic Spadefish – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern You can find Atlantic spadefish in the shallow waters of the east coast These silvery zebra striped fish are called Atlantic spadefish. They grow to a couple feet long and can be found on their own or schooling with others. They tend to be unafraid of scuba divers. In fact, […]
Seaweed Blenny – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern If you approach slowly and try to get below them, seaweed blennies appear to be comfortable checking you out Although it may be hard to tell in this photo, you are looking at a fish that will only grow to about three inches. You can only see its […]
Florida Softshell Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern They get this name from their cartilaginous carapace This is Virgil the Turtle. Virgil is a Florida softshell turtle that lives near Williston, Florida. Williston is a small town about half an hour south of Gainesville. North Central Florida is known for its fresh water springs, caverns, and caves. Virgil […]
Great Blue Heron – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Great blue herons have a lethal weapon built into their head–their beak This majestic aviator is a great blue heron. With this month’s theme of “Zoomed In” you can get a good look at their decorative plumage. Great blue herons have a lethal weapon built into their head–their […]
Great Egret – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern Adult great egrets will have all white feathers This contorted creature is a great egret. This photograph was taken at Fort De Soto Park, just outside of St. Petersburg, Florida. The water in the background is the Gulf of Mexico. This great egret is using its long and flexible neck […]
Flying Gurnard – IUCN Conservation Status: Varies Flying gurnards walk around using their ventral and pectoral fins We are looking at an overhead image featuring a flying gurnard (left) and peacock flounder (right). Both fish have amazing camouflage skills. This photo was taken at Blue Heron Bridge in West Palm Beach, Florida. Blue Heron Bridge is a […]
Green Turtle – IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered Turtles can hold their breath for two hours before surfacing. Even if this photo was in color, you would not use the color of the shell to determine that this is a “green turtle”. The name “green turtle” actually comes from their green fatty tissue. There are other ways to […]
Gopher Tortoise – IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable This photo of a checkered melon beetle was taken while hiking along a creek bed near Croton Springs within the park. This gopher tortoise is listed as Threatened in Florida. The tortoise and the burrows they build are protected by law. Before land development or land clearing, property owners must […]