Sailors have a long and creative history of exaggeration when it comes to describing unusual marine organisms. From the terrifying kraken and sea monsters to the alluring mermaids and sirens, too much sun, salt, and… Read More
The text came through on a late May afternoon—a college friend was camping at Ft. Pickens with her kids. They’d spent the afternoon beachcombing and were curious. Her text read, “Here is your marine biologist… Read More
In the midst of Tropical Storm Claudette and the rainstorms covering the Southeast this week, flooding has been common in our region. On Saturday alone, the Pensacola area received at least 4” of rain. To… Read More
Caterpillars are top candidates for the hide and seek champions of the world. Fat, juicy morsels for birds, lizards, and small mammals, they are vulnerable prey for hundreds of would-be predators. Possessing no wings (until… Read More
In our continuing series on the biogeographic distribution of island vertebrates, this week we look at a creature that, for some, is as scary as sharks – the rays. The term stingray congers up stinging… Read More
They appear as undulating licks of flame, dancing across the garden. Every time I see the intricate brilliant red, orange, and yellow petals of this flower, I am awestruck. Like little campfires, the blooms entice… Read More
With this article we are going to begin a short series on the biogeography of panhandle vertebrates. Biogeography is the study of distribution of life and why species are found where they are. Many are… Read More
There are a lot of jokes out there about the four seasons in Florida—instead of spring, summer, fall, and winter; we have tourist, mosquito, hurricane, and football seasons. The weather and change in seasons are… Read More
A legless lizard is a pretty weird phenomenon. I mean, isn’t a reptile without legs the very definition of a snake? Well, the locally found glass lizard is here to teach us why it’s not…. Read More
Most ecosystems are named for the dominate plant in the system – marsh, meadow, swamp, forest, etc. But reefs are typically named by the dominate animal – coral, oyster, etc. Everyone knows the oyster. You… Read More
