Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis), the subspecies that breeds in the eastern United States. The brown peilican is the smallest of the 8 pelican speices, but is often one of the larger seabirds in their range. Seen at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. onservation status: Least Concern

Tags:   seabird Aves Florida Bird Pelican Dry Tortugas National Park Fort Jefferson Conservation status: Least Concern Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis brown pelican animal

© All Rights Reserved

Magnificent frigate bird (Fregata magnificens), likely a subadult.
Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.
Conservation status: Least Concern

Tags:   seabird Aves Magnificent frigate bird Bird Fort Jefferson Florida Conservation status: Least Concern fregata magnificens Dry Tortugas National Park animal COTH Coth5+ Sunrays+5

© All Rights Reserved

Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis), also known as the man-of-war or bluebottle. While superficially resembling a jellyfish, it is made up of many smaller units that hang in clusters from under a large, gas-filled structure. Man o' war are carnivorous and use venomous tentacles to trap and paralyze. Seen in the watery mote surrounding Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Tags:   neuston dydrozoa marine invertibrate siphonophore Physalia physalis man-of-war Dry Tortugas National Park Florida bluebottle animal Portugese man o'war COTH Sunrays+5 Coth5+

© All Rights Reserved

Seeing Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium)was one of the highlight of this trip. Though we could find none in the Key National Key Deer Refuge, we got lucky driving through the neighborhoods of Big Pine Key and saw a group of does (females) with one fawn (juvenile) enjoying the grass around someone's home.

Key deer are an endangered subspecies of the white-tailed deer that live only in the Florida Keys. The females average 26 inches at the shoulder and the males are not much bigger.

Conservation Status: Endangered

Tags:   Key deer animal mammal Cervidae Big Pine Keey subspecies of the white-tailed deer. deer Odocoileus virginianus clavium COTH ALittleBeauty Sunrays+5 Coth5+

© All Rights Reserved

American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Brigg's Boardwalk, Rookery Bay Research Reserve, Florida

Tags:   American alligator gator Brigg's Boadwalk common alligator reprile Alligator mississippiensis Conservation status: Least Concern crocodilian Florida Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve ALittleBeauty COTH Coth5+ Sunrays+5

© All Rights Reserved