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MANATEE

The native Florida manatee is one of two sub species of the West Indian manatee, the other being the Antillean manatee.

The core of the Florida manatee's range is Florida where they concentrate during the winter in the warmer water near power plants and in spring runs. During the summer months they wander throughout the southeastern United States. The Antillean manatee can be found from Mexico, throughout the Caribbean islands and down to Brazil. Trichechus manatus latirostris is listed as endangered by both Florida and the federal gevernment. Collisions with motorboats is one of the major causes of injury and death of these large marine mammals.


HAND FERN

In Florida, HAND FERNS are almost always found in the humus at the leaf bases (frond boots) of sabal palms.

The range of this once common small fern extends from the central peninsula south into the Everglades. Cheiroglossa palmata is now rare due to overcollecting and extensive drainage of natural wetlands from development and water diversion projects.


RED SHOULDERED HAWK

Buteo lineatus is smaller than red-tailed hawks and is usually found near water where it hunts mainly mammals and some reptiles and amphibians from perches such as this.

These photos show the pale variant of red-shouldered hawks found in southern Florida.


CLAMSHELL ORCHID

An epiphytic orchid found in the southern counties of Florida, Prosthechea cochleata is listed as a state endangered species.

The interesting flowers can appear year-round, but blooming occurs more heavily from September through May.


WHITE PEACOCK

This white peacock butterfly was among several feeding on the nector of Phyla nodiflora along the Peace River.

Anartia jatrophae are members of the brushroot family of butterflies and favor moist and swampy areas. The small-flowered, low-growing plant is known as frog-fuit or carpetweed and is found throughout the state in damp sandy soils.


BENT ALLIGATOR-FLAG

This large-leaved plant is found in wet places throughout central and south Florida.

The flower stalks of alligatorflag can grow up to 12 feet tall. Florida black bear feed on the leaves and stems of this plant, also called fireflag. T. genticulata is the only species of the Thalia genus occurring naturally in Florida.