WELCOME TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS GET TO KNOW SOME OF OUR LOCAL NATIVES BY CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
T
he Sunshine State is teeming with terrestrial, aquatic, and avian wildlife. More than 130 native species are threatened or endangered—and many make their home in Southwest Florida. Whether they’re outgoing or shy, get to know a few of your neighbors’ “cool factors.”
LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE scientific name:
Caretta caretta 3 feet weight: 250 to 300 pounds lifespan: More than 50 years habitat: Temperate and tropical regions of the ocean diet: Fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, and occasionally seagrass and algae status: Threatened in Florida, endangered in other parts of the world Cool factor: Mature sea turtles return adult size:
lifespan:
12 to 15 years Confined to Southwest Florida’s pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mixed swamp forests diet: Deer, wild hogs, raccoons, armadillos, snakes, even alligators status: Endangered, with an estimated 120 to 230 panthers in Florida, making them one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world Cool factor: Panthers are strong
Upland forests, hardwood hammocks, Florida scrub diet: Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians status: Threatened Cool factor: This snake eats its prey
swimmers, have a keen sense of smell, and a 130-degree field of vision.
ROSEATE SPOONBILL
habitat:
FLORIDA PANTHER
EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE
scientific name:
scientific name:
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Drymarchon couperi adult size: 6 to 8 feet long weight: Up to 9-plus pounds, averaging about 5 pounds
S O U T H W E ST F LO R I DA R E LO C AT I O N G U I D E
020_Welcome_Meet Your Neighbors DALL 2021.indd 20
live, and hunts and consumes other snakes, including venomous ones. It is also the longest native snake in North America.
scientific name:
Platalea ajaja 2.5 to 3.5 feet, with a wingspan of 4.5 to 5 feet weight: Up to 4 pounds habitat: Shallow wetlands, marshes, bays, or swamps diet: Small fish, insects, small aquatic crustaceans status: Threatened; Protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act Cool factor: Shortly after hatching, adult size:
to the beaches where they hatched to lay their eggs.
Puma concolor coryi adult size: 7 to 8 feet from the nose to tail tip weight: 100 to 160 pounds
habitat:
– FALL 2021
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spoonbill chick bills gradually flatten and develop into their iconic flared shape after a few weeks’ time.
WINTER 2022
9/28/21 11:01 AM
