by Rich Leighton | Dec 5, 2018 | Florida Nature Facts, Florida Nature Photography, Natural History, Nature & Wildlife, Nature Photography, Reptiles
Snakes do not have a sternum. Floating ribs allow them to move side to side and swallow prey larger than their heads. MORE PHOTOS OF SNAKES MORE FLORIDA NATURE FACTS Florida Nature Facts is a series about interesting facts about the flora, fauna and places that make...
by Rich Leighton | Jul 18, 2018 | Florida, Florida Nature Facts, Florida Nature Photography, Herps, Natural History, Nature & Wildlife, Reptiles
Gopher tortoises build enormous burrows that can be up to 50 feet long and nearly 10 feet deep, and not only just one burrow. Over the area of several acres, it can build many burrows to suit its needs over a lifetime. These tunnels keep it safe from predators, cool...
by Rich Leighton | Apr 24, 2018 | Florida Nature Facts, Florida Nature Photography, Herps, Natural History, Reptiles
The green anole is a common lizard in the American Southeast, slender in build, with a narrow head and a long, slender tail that can be twice as long as the rest of the animal. Color can vary from gray-brown, to brown, to bright green. Each animal can change its color...
by Rich Leighton | Mar 25, 2018 | Florida Nature Facts, Florida Nature Photography, Herps, Natural History, Reptiles
The cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin, is the only semiaquatic viper, usually found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. The snake is a strong swimmer and even enters the sea. It has successfully colonized...
by Rich Leighton | Mar 31, 2016 | Florida, Florida Nature Photography, Herps, Natural History, Nature & Wildlife, Reptiles, Turtles
The sign of any healthy body of water is the presence of native turtles. Of the 327 species alive today, 60+ of those are found living in the wild in the United States. The fossil record shows that turtles are at least 157 million years old in what we would recognize...
by Rich Leighton | Dec 9, 2014 | Birds, Florida Nature Photography, Nature & Wildlife, Nature Photography, Photography, Reptiles
Today’s post is just a set of wildlife portraits taken in the Florida wilderness. Click on any image to find out more information or to enlarge. Fakahatchee Barred Owl An adult barred owl watches from the hardwoods at the northern end of the Fakahatchee Strand...
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