Wildlife Biology at Marlow Anne Reciprocate

•FISH OF OCEAN AND GULF STREAMS•🏝🏖🏞🌊
🐠🐟KING MACKERAL 🐟🐠
*Scomberomorus cavalla*🐟🏝🌊
Occurs in the North Atlantic, South to Brazil 🇧🇷. Their food consists primarily of small fish and squid. Reaches a length of 5 feet and weight of 85 to 100 pounds.🐟🐠

I have had a book where at least 3 species(& /or classifications) were discussed of monotremes. Yet I don't have that book now. So I have this to finish discussing and describing these monotremes so that I can get this part completed. 🦥🦔🦡🦭🦦

Monotremes 🐗🦔🦦🦡🦨🦫

Monotremes - The only Mammals that lay Eggs? | Science for Kids Hello! Today, we will be learning about Monotremes. We will learn everything about Monotremes the only mammals that lay eggs including some fun and amazing ...

The Echidna Makes The Platypus Look Normal Meet the Echidna. They’re covered in spikes, they have flat eyes, tongues almost as long as their bodies, a sixth sense, and they lay eggs. Everything about ...

•LONG -BEAKED ECHIDNA (Zaglossus bruiini)
Range:New Guinea
Habitat:forest
SIZE= Body:17 to 30 inches (45 to 77 centimeters.
Tail: Vestigial•
The long-beaked echidna is larger than the short-beaked and has fewer, shorter spines scattered among its coarse hairs. The snout is two -thirds the head length and curves slightly downward. There are 5 digits on both hind and forefeet, but on the former, only the three middle toes are equipped with claws. Males have a spur on each of the hind legs. This echidna is primarily a nocturnal animal that forages for it's insect food on the forest floor.
The breeding female has a temporary abdominal brood patch, in which her egg is incubated and which the new born young remains in safety, feeding and developing. Little is known about the life of this rarely seen animal, but it is believed to have similar habits to those of the short -beaked echidna.
There were once thought to be 3 species in this genus, but now all are believed to be raced of this one species. The population of echidnas in New Guinea is declining because of forest clearance and overhunting, and the animal is much in need of protection.

•TACHYGLOSSIDAE: ECHIDNA FAMILY •
There are 2 species of echidna, previously known as spiny anteater. Both are covered with coarse hairs, and their backs are set with spines. They have elongated, slender snouts and strong limbs and are powerful diggers. Echidnas, like other anteating species have no teeth and very weak jaws. Termites,ants, and other arthropods are swept into the mouth by a long, sticky tongue, which can reach well beyond the tip of the snout. The insects are then crushed between the tongue and the roof of the mouth.🦦🦔🦡🦨🦫🐿️🦘🦥

•ECHIDNAS AND PLATYPUS •
Order: Monotremata
Two families with a combined total only 3 living species make up this order. Although well-adapted for their environments, monotremes are considered primitive mammals in that they retain some reptilian characteristics of body structure and they lay eggs. However they also possess the essential mammalian characteristics of body hair and mammary glands. Monotremes are probably a parallel development, rather than a stage in the evolution of mammals. A problem in understanding the origins of this order is that no fossil monotremes have been found.

Class - Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order - Peciformes (typical fishes)
Family - Centrarchidae ( sunfishes)
FLIER🐟
• Centrarchus macropterus •
SIZE: Averages about 6 inches in length. Florida record 1.3 pounds and 12 inches.
ABUNDANCE:Common
NATURAL HISTORY: The Flier is a lowland species that is usually found in natural lakes, oxbows,swamps or sluggish streams. Most often occurs in waters with mud bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation. This fish has an unusually large a**l fin that is as long as the dorsal fin.🐟

Class - Aves (Birds)
Order - Passeriformes (songbirds)
Family - Tyrannidae (flycatchers)
EASTERN WOOD PEWEE
•Contopus virens•
Size: 6.5 inches
Abundance: Fairly common
Variation: No significant variation. Sexes alike. (genders alike)
Migratory Status: Summer resident in the Florida panhandle(northwest).Seasonal migrant elsewhere in the state.
Habitat: Wood Pewees are forest birds but they favor small openings in the woods or edge areas where marshes or fields border woodlands.
Breeding: Nests are usually built high in trees in a terminal fork. Nest material consists of grasses and lichens. 2 to 4 eggs are laid.
NATURAL HISTORY: These nondescript little brown birds often go unnoticed except for the distinctive call from which they derive their name. Their "pee-a-weee" song is a common summer sound in the woodlands throughout the eastern half of America.
Like other members of the flycatcher family, they hunt flying insects from high perches, swooping out to catch their food on the wing. Very similar to Eastern Phoebe, but note lower orange bill and pale wing bars on the Wood Pewee. These birds can be fairly common summer residents in rural yards that are surrounded by woodlands. They will often become quiet tame in those situations. The range of Eastern Wood Pewee in America coincides closely with the Eastern Temperate Forest Level 1 Ecoregion.

FOWLER'S TOAD🐸

•FOWLER'S TOAD•
Anaxyrus fowleri
Class ~ Amphibia (amphibians)
Order ~ Anura(frogs and toads)
Family ~ Bufonidae (true toads)
Size: Average of 2 to 3 inches. Record 3.75.
Abundance: Uncommon
Variation: Dark brown, tan, or grayish brown.
Habitat: Woodlands, overgrown fields or lawns. In Florida found mostly in bottomland regions.
Breeding: Breeding is in long shallow ponds, ditches, creeks, flooded fields, etc. From 5,000 to 10,000 eggs are laid.
Natural History: Fowler's Toads breed later in the spring than Southern Toads and young toadlets do not emerge from the tadpole stage until late summer. Like many toads (and many treefrogs), the Fowler's Toad secretes a toxic substance from the skin when threatened. While this toxin can cause irritation to sensitive areas and membranes, the old wives' tale that toads cause warts is fallacy. Most of this species' range in the eastern U.S.A. is to the north of Florida, but they can be found in the western panhandle of the state. Mainly nocturnal but sometimes active during the day,especially during rains. All toads are voracious predators of insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates. rhey should be regarded as a welcome resident in lawns and gardens for this reason. They are also interesting and endearing animals and they are often a child's first encounter with Florida's wildlife.

Class -Mammalia ( mammals)
Order - Trichechidae (manatees)
•West Indian Manatee•
*Trichechus manatus*
SIZE: Can attain a maximum size of 15 feet and over 3,000 pounds.
ABUNDANCE: Rare. A federally threatened species.
VARIATION: No variation in Florida.
HABITAT: Shallow waters of warm, tropical and subtropical seas along the southeastern coastline of America and throughout the Caribbean. In Florida uses freshwater rivers and spring runs extensively, especially in winter.
BREEDING: Manatees have a very low reproductive rate. Females do not breed until nearly 5 years old. Breeding occurs only every 3,4 or 5 years. A single baby (calf) is born following 13 months of gestation. The young calf will stay with the mother about 2 years.
NATURAL HISTORY: The Manatee is one of Florida's most unique wild animals. Despite the similarities in lifestyle, they are not closely related to seals, but are more closely related to elephants. They are completely aquatic and totally vegetarian.
The list of threats to this placid animal in Florida today is long. Collisions with fast-moving boats in both shallow coastal waters and in freshwater rivers cause many injuries and fatalities. Loss of habitat, pollution and entanglement with fishing nets or lines are hazards that have caused death and injury. Extreme cold fronts in winter also pose a threat to Manatees caught away from water spring runs or in shallow coastal seas. Effluent of warm waters from power plants around the coast have become a new winter refuge for Manatees.
These localities have also created new tourist attractions as wildlife lovers flock to boardwalks and viewing platforms see these gentles giants. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission now has a management plan for the conservation of this magnificent animal in Florida waters.