Birds!
Name a bird that is native to Florida.
Great Blue Heron, Pileated Woodpecker, Eagle, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Osprey, Black and White Warbler, Limpkin, Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Cardinal, Blue Jay, and the list goes on.
True or False: Reptiles are cold-blooded. (ectothermic)
True! Reptiles are ectothermic. They rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.
Name a characteristic all mammals share.
Fur, warm-blooded, can produce milk, give birth, vs laying eggs.
What do fish eat?
Fish diets include algae, aquatic insects, crustaceans, and sometimes other fish.
What does USFWS stand for?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
True or False: The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest living woodpecker in North America.
True!
It can be as large as a crow with a wing span of up to 30 inches.
What famous reptile of the Everglades is considered a key stone species in the ecosystem?
The American Alligator!
True or False: Raccoons have five fingers that make them dexterous enough to open jars.
True!
Name the small freshwater fish that aids in pest control by feeding on the larvae of a certain blood-sucking insect.
The mosquito fish.
They can eat up to 300 mosquito larva a day!
That is the apex predator of the Everglades?
(Excluding Humans and Invasive Species)
American Alligator!
Scientists use categories to group similar kinds of birds together. Name one of those categories.
The main groups: Birds of Prey, Wading Birds, Waterfowl, Shore Birds, Songbirds.
Additional groups: Aerial Insectivores, Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers, Seabirds, Ground birds, Flightless birds.
Name a snake native to Florida.
Eastern Ratsnake, Indigo snake, Red bellied mudsnake, Brahminy blindsnake, Red cornsnake, Florida cottonmouth, Brown water snake, Bandded water snake, and the list goes on.
True or False: Male white-tailed deer (bucks) shed their antlers every year.
True!
True or False: The fish found at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge include both fresh water and saltwater fish.
False! The Refuge is made up of freshwater habits and only has freshwater fish.
True or False: The mission of the USFWS includes protecting fish, wildlife, plants, AND their habitats.
True!
What is the name of the endangered species of bird that lives in the Everglades?
Hint: It has a very specific diet.
The Everglades Snail Kite.
Scutes are the thick, protective, and plate-like scales that make up the outer layer of a turtle's shell. What material are they made of?
Keratin! (The same material that makes up nails, animal claws, and hooves)
What is one fact you learned about river otters today?
-An otter can hold its breath for up to 8 minutes!
-They are active and social, sometimes living in groups called a raft.
-They are carnivores, mostly eating fish.
-They have water-resistant two-layered fur coats.
What is the name of the invasive species of fish that has a tough external armor protecting its body?
The sailfin catfish.
Extra fun facts these fish can live outside of the water for up to 36 hours!
What are some ways an invasive species can end up in an ecosystem?
They can be released into the wild by pet owners who no longer want them.
They can get stuck on cargo ships or other international deliveries.
What kind of bird is on the USFWS seal?
Waterfowl or Duck!
Identify the frog based on the sound.
Pig Frog!
Name two mammals that have adapted to be strong swimmers, allowing them to live in the Everglades.
The bobcat, marsh rabbit, white-tailed deer, and river otter are all examples of species that have adapted to be strong swimmers!
What is the name of the popular sport fish that bring in over 1 billion dollars to Florida’s freshwater fishing industry?
The largemouth bass!
Name one of the wetland habitats found on the Refuge?
Cypress Swamp, Sloughs, Sawgrass Ridges / Cattail Communities, Wet Prairie, and Tree Islands.