Photos / Sounds
What
Rosette Lichen (Physcia millegrana)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Physcia millegrana. Also known by its common name “rosette lichen” this organis was found on the thick trunk of a tree to which I cannot classify. The lichen has a flaky appearance and is also a light frosty green hue. It mostly was found close to the base of the tree though it did extend upward (but only sparsely). It functions in a symbiotic relationship with other organisms. This particular cluster had an approximate diameter of one foot. Reference site: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PHYSC4
Known geographical distribution: n/a
Photos / Sounds
What
White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Anartia jatrophae. Also known by it’s common name “White Peacock” is a protostome that was found flying along the shore line of a local man made lake. It has simple coloring, mostly of beige, browns, and whites. It is an arthropod. The butterfly had roughly a 3”wingspan and kept to the low grassy areas of a sunny shore. Reference site: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Anartia-jatrophae
Known geography distribution: found in southern Texas and southern Florida. They migrate and settle in central Texas and coastal South Carolina.
Photos / Sounds
What
Florida Carpenter Ant (Camponotus floridanus)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Solenopsis invicta. Also known by its common name “Red Imported fire ant” or RIFA, this protostome was found walking on a sidewalk right next to an open patch of grass. Clearly seen are it’s body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen) where the head and thorax are both a lighter red color and the abdomen is a darker shade of red or maybe even black. This organism was only about 4mm long and was moving fairly quickly. Reference site: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/red_imported_fire_ant.htm
Known geographical distribution: Native to central and South America but also found in southern parts of the US.
Photos / Sounds
What
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Eudocimus albus. Also known by its common name “American White Ibis”, this deuterostome was found no more than 15 yards from a local man made pond in a shady and lush area. It’s coloring is pure white apart from its beak and legs which are more or an orange red color. It beak is long and curved and they are known to be one of the most common wading birds in Florida. Reference site: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/white-ibis
Known Geographical distribution: found from Virginia via the gulf coast of the US south through most of the coastal new world tropics.
Photos / Sounds
What
Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Genus: Anolis. Also known by its common name, “Brown Anole”, this deuterostome was found on a small tree in an open grassy area. The anole was about 4”-5” long with a slender, brown and slightly white spotted body. Its eyes were beady, and a distinguishable feature is the long nails that allow it to cling onto things such as tree bark. The weather was sunny and dry when the organism was observed. Reference site: https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/anosag.htm
Known geographical distribution: Native to Bahamas and Cubs but also found in the southeastern United States
Photos / Sounds
What
Carolina Ruellia (Ruellia caroliniensis)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Ruellia caroliniensis. Also known by its common name "Carolina Wild Petunia", was found growing independently in mulch among some other domesticated flowers. It was found near a grassy area. Kingdom:Plantae Family: Acanthaceae. It is a seeded vascular plant known as an angiosperm. The flower is small, only about an inch wide and it has 5 petals of a light purple hue. Reference site: https://www.plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=RUCA4
Known geographical distribution: Species is native to southeastern states.
Photos / Sounds
What
Joint-toothed Mosses (Class Bryopsida)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Tortula ruralis. Also known as twisted moss and star moss, this seedless non-vascular plant was found growing independently on the side of a palm tree that had been intentionally planted in some mulch. Kingdom: Plantae. Family: Pottiaceae. This particular cluster of moss stretched for about 6" by 10" and it was a dark green color. The leaves if you can look closer were about 5-10 individual leaves on each piece. There was also some lichen in the areas adjacent to the moss. Reference site: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TORU70
Known geographic distribution: It has a cosmopolitan distribution and is found on every continent other than Africa.
Photos / Sounds
What
Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis michauxiana)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Pleopeltis polypodioides. Also known by its common name as the "Tropical Resurrection Fern", this fern was found growing at the base of and even growing out of the trunk of a large tree. Also growing around it was some moss and other independent plants. Kingdom Plantae. Family: Polypodiaceae. The fern is a seedless vascular plant. The main cluster of leaves is pictured here and measured about 8"-10" long, with each individual leaf being about 1"-2" in length. Also pictured but unfortunately not captured well are the sori on the underside of the fern's leaves. Reference site: http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=4877
Known geographic distribution: Florida native and can go as far north as New York and as far west as Texas.
Photos / Sounds
What
Shaggy Portulaca (Portulaca pilosa)Observer
enriquecardona_a_28Description
Species: Portulaca pilosa. Also known by its common name "kiss-me-quick" flower or pink purslane, this flower was found in a grassy area growing independently with crab grass and other plants. Kingdom: Plantae. Family: Portulacaceae. Seeded vascular plant that are categorized as angiosperms. Flower is small about 1 cm in diameter with 5 petals of a pinkish color and linear leaves that alternate. Also distinct to the plant is the fluffy hair like tufts that gather at the base of the bud and in the leaf axils. Reference site: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=popi3
http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Genus.aspx?id=997#classification
Known geographic distribution: Coastal plains from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas.
