Observations by jacymackenroth

Habitat- I saw this squirrel while on a hike in Zion Canyon, Utah. They were in trees, on the sides of rocks, ground, and even on the side walks that people were walking on.
Species- Squirrels are a part of order Rodentia. These creatures are usually distinguished by their large, sharp front teeth. These teeth continually grow so they have to gnaw with their teeth a lot or they will grow so long that they won't be able to close their mouths properly.

Habitat- I saw these elk at our RV resort that we were staying at in Grand Canyon, Arizona. I also saw a bunch in the woods and on the sides of the road.
Species- Elk are a part of class Artiodactyla. They are about the size of horses and are very protective of their young. So when you see an elk with babies, you want to be extra cautious around them. Their babies are about the size of white-tailed deer or deer you might see on the sides of roads in Texas.

Habitat- I saw this buck eating grass in our driveway. I have also seen them in many other places eating grass on our property.
Species- These deer are a part of order Artiodactyla. Deer have two toes that make up their hooves and they are often called the even-toed hoofed mammal.

Habitat- I found this turtle walking through out backyard. I have also seen them in our wet weather creek.
Species- These turtles are a part of order Testudines. The name "turtle" to the members in this order that live in water. Their nostrils are placed high on the nose so that the turtle can still breathe while most of its body is still underwater.

Habitat- I saw this duck in the San Marcos River with another duck. The water was really cold and it had a bunch of seaweed at the bottom of it.
Species- Ducks are a part of order Anseriformes. They produce a waterproof oil for preening so that they dry off quickly when they get out of the water. Preening is when the bird spreads oil all over its wings to allow the hooked barbules to slide freely along the smooth barbules. They are also known for having webbed feet which allows them to swim more efficiently.

Habitat- I found this snapping turtle in our wet weather creek. The turtle was laying in a part of the creek that had a sandy and soft bottom under a rock.
Species-The snapping turtle is a part of class Testudines. They are fresh water creatures that eat the vegetation at the bottom of ponds. They do not have teeth, instead they have jaws formed into tough beaks. Snapping turtles have especially strong jaws which is where they get their name from.

Habitat- I found this worm in the dirt of our garden garden. The dirt was moist and it had lots of plants growing in it.
Species- These worms are actually only harmful if you eat them. They are very beautiful butterflies when they turn into them. They go through complete metamorphosis before they are an adult. Complete metamorphosis consist of an egg hatching into a larvae, which forms into a chrysalis to become a pupa then the adult emerges from the chrysalis.

Habitat- I found this cactus in a field partly in shade but mostly in the sun. The picture I have is the flower of a a Prickly Pear cactus.
Species- The flowers of the prickly pear cactus that I found had a bunch of beetles in it and there was more than one kind of beetle.

Habitat- I found this flower in a field with a bunch of other ones like it in a part of our property that does not get managed very much. It was also in the sun with no shade.
Species- The Texas thistle blooms in the spring. Lots of different butterflies, beetles, and even birds are attracted to this plant.

Habitat- I found this Ladybird on the stem of a plant. They like to be in gardens, fields, or wherever there is vegetation and sometimes you can find them in your house.
Species- Ladybirds are especially helpful to farmers who are having trouble with with pests destroying their crops because they sometimes eat those insects.

Habitat- I found this rain lily in a neighborhood park in the shade with little patches of sun around it so in other parts of the day sun could be in it.
Species- Rain lilies usually come up or bloom after good rains which is where they get there name from.

Habitat- I found this flower in a neighborhood park in a field. It was in the sun surrounded with other plants.
Species- The Drummond's Skullcap blooms towards the beginning of spring. You can find bees, butterflies, and sometimes birds around them. They grow good in Texas due to their tolerance to drought.

Habitat- I found this flower when I was hiking. It was in a field in the sun with some other different plants growing around it.
Species- The Texas Yellow Flower grows in the beginning and middle of spring. They can tolerate heat and drought and you can find bees or butterflies around them.

Habitat- I found this flower while on a hike at school in a field with some trees.
Species- They are a herbaceous flower with 4 petals and their leaves alternate around the stem. The shape of their leaves are elliptical with palmate venation which makes this flower a dicot.

Habitat- I found this flower growing wild in a field. They can also be found growing on the sides of roads.
Species- These flowers usually grow in the spring. The Indian Blanket does good in dry, hot climates which is why they grow nicely in Texas.

Habitat- I saw these wild horse while on vacation in Monument Valley, Utah. They can also be found in places like Colorado, Montana, or Wyoming.
Species- They are a part of genus Equus. Wild horses eat grass, leaves, or any type of forage they can find in that area. They travel in groups which can range from just a handful of horses to a couple hundred. In the wild they usually give birth in the spring or summer, after 11 months of gestation which is why the foal has hair and can walk pretty soon after birth.

Habitat- I found this butterfly in my house. It is one of the most widely distributed butterflies in the world. They come to Texas in the winter.
Species- They are a part class Insecta. They go through complete metamorphosis which means they are hatched out of an egg into a larva and they form a chrysalis to become a pupa and come out as an adult. They like to eat sap and fruit.

Habitat- I found this butterfly in our back yard on a flower called Gregg's Mistflower. During summer and spring they like to be in open fields and meadows with milkweed. In the winter they can be found in California and parts of Mexico.
Species- They are a part of class Insecta. They go through complete metamorphosis which means the egg hatches a larva, forms forms into a chrysalis to become a pupa, and the adult emerges from the chrysalis. Their wingspan can range from 3 to 4 inches. They have a completely liquid diet. They consume all sorts of different things including nectar, water, and even liquids from fruit that we like to eat.

Habitat-I found this snail when I was on vacation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was on a damp piece of wood right after it had rained. They can be found in many different places. Some are comfortable in the desert while some would rather be in cooler of wet climates.
Species- The snail is a part of phylum Mollusca. They are very helpful to the ecosystem by eating dead herbaceous plants or rotting wood. They also like to eat fruits, vegetables, and algae. They look for calcium rich foods to eat so they can get a stronger shell.
Fun Fact- Their method of locomotion allows them to move only 9 feet per hour!