cgrissett's Identifications
Photos / Sounds
What
Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus ssp. latirostris)Observer
weibley_k_002Description
This manatee was spotted on the Alafia river around 11:45am (3.29.2020). It was the largest manatee I've ever seen, coming in around 10-12 feet. I was shocked by its size, the pictures don't do it justice! It was longer than the kayaks that my family was using. There is a picture included that shows this comparison. This manatee was alone and it had many scars on its back (most likely from a boat). Manatees migrate to Florida's warm waters during winter, according to "https://www.savethemanatee.org/manatees/migration/". They can survive in fresh, brackish, and salt water as these are all types of water they encounter upon migration. According to "https://www.livescience.com/53164-animal-sex-manatees.html", manatees have a specific mating ritual. The females secrete a scent that draws herds of male manatees towards them. For 2-4 weeks, they mate. Females often have many males that crowd around them so only the most aggressive succeed. Their reproductive structures are penis and vagina.
Photos / Sounds
What
Basidiomycete Fungi (Phylum Basidiomycota)Observer
sebastian_adeaDescription
The Narrow-Spored Destroying Angle (Amanita virosiformis), is a highly poisonous species of mushroom which can be found in sandy environments along the coast lines of Texas, North Carolina and Florida, Oak Hammocks, Coastal Swamps. They are related to other common death caps and are similar in appearance. However they become shiny as they begin to decompose. They are white - yellowish in color, and range in size from 27 - 80 mm wide, they lack odor however when rotting smell like chlorine. The gills of the Narrow-Spored Destroying Angle are narrow and white extending from the edge of the cap to the center connecting with he stem. They are relatively short and can be found close to the round only standing a few mm tall.
References:
Narrow-Spored Destroying Angel, Amanita virosiformis, 03/25/2017, http://arborist.forest.usf.edu/floridafungi/127, 10/21/2019
Amanita virosiformis, Amanitaceae, http://www.amanitaceae.org/?Amanita+virosiformis,10/21/2019
Stats
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