Top Five Florida Fauna
For
jlrpuck: Florida fauna.
1. Iguanas. Ok, so, these freak a lot of people out. but I respect the hell out of them. They're not quite native to Florida, but they've managed to overrun big swaths of Florida due to sheer persistence. When I took a class at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, they showed us a patch of plain grass a couple of acres wide. Apparently, it used to be the hibiscus garden before the neighborhood iguanas ate all the plants down to the ground.
2. Florida panther, obviously. Extremely endangered and extremely pretty. What? I'm shallow. I've never seen one in person. In fact, I only know one person who says he has, but he was an inveterate liar desperate to top everyone around him, so I, uh, didn't believe him.
3. Ibis. This snowy-white beauty is pretty common down here in Miami. They're a native of the Everglades, and so have the spindly legs and straw-like mouth of a wading bird. I like watching them walk. They're so delicate and precise about it!
4. Manatee. When EGT first came down to visit with me (oh, so long ago), she begged to see a manatee. I was puzzled, as I know manatees are, possibly, the least exciting sea mammals around. They...float. And, that's pretty much it. Over the years, though, they've grown on me. They're so cute and sometimes I want to just squish them. But I won't 'cause they're endangered.
5. Luminous click beetle. I didn't know the actual name of this cool, little bug until now. My family just always called them cuquillos. They have glowing, green eyes! Need I say more?
jlrpuck: Florida fauna.
1. Iguanas. Ok, so, these freak a lot of people out. but I respect the hell out of them. They're not quite native to Florida, but they've managed to overrun big swaths of Florida due to sheer persistence. When I took a class at Fairchild Tropical Gardens, they showed us a patch of plain grass a couple of acres wide. Apparently, it used to be the hibiscus garden before the neighborhood iguanas ate all the plants down to the ground.
2. Florida panther, obviously. Extremely endangered and extremely pretty. What? I'm shallow. I've never seen one in person. In fact, I only know one person who says he has, but he was an inveterate liar desperate to top everyone around him, so I, uh, didn't believe him.
3. Ibis. This snowy-white beauty is pretty common down here in Miami. They're a native of the Everglades, and so have the spindly legs and straw-like mouth of a wading bird. I like watching them walk. They're so delicate and precise about it!
4. Manatee. When EGT first came down to visit with me (oh, so long ago), she begged to see a manatee. I was puzzled, as I know manatees are, possibly, the least exciting sea mammals around. They...float. And, that's pretty much it. Over the years, though, they've grown on me. They're so cute and sometimes I want to just squish them. But I won't 'cause they're endangered.
5. Luminous click beetle. I didn't know the actual name of this cool, little bug until now. My family just always called them cuquillos. They have glowing, green eyes! Need I say more?