154 Miles - The Southern Miami Town of "Coral Gables"
As of December 22, 2007 at 2:00 PM
Steps: 366965
Miles: 156.19
American Alligator
Some quicky Alligator facts: They can survive two to three years without eating! They are one of the few reptiles today that care for their young. Alligators have vibration sensors on their skin that are extremely sensitive -- they can detect even the slightest vibration and get out of harm's way long before it arrives.
On the other hand, alligators can be quite dangerous. They are instinctual living machines. An alligator's brain weighs only 8 or 9 grams and would take up only one-half of a tablespoon. This lack of brain power means there is no such thing as a "nice alligator." If it is hungry, an alligator will eat anything that moves. Pets and children who wander near an alligator pond are frequent victims of this instinctive behavior. To stay safe, I'll keep my distance.
Florida Panther - Puma
The Florida panther is a subspecies of the mountain lion. It has short, light brown fur and a white muzzle, chest and stomach. It has a long tail with a slight crook in it. The crooked tail and a whorl of hair on its back are characteristics that make it different from the mountain lion. Males are between seven and eight feet long and weigh between 100 and 160 pounds. Females are about six feet long and weigh between 60 and 100 pounds. There are so few of these animals left, its very unlikely I will ever see one, let alone be threatened by one.
More Florida Panther Information and Pictures
Roseate Spoonbill
Picture Credit
The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a unique wading bird that has a long 'spoon-shaped' bill that is lined with sensitive nerve endings that help the bird locate and capture prey. To forage for food, the Spoonbill probes the bottom of shallow wetlands and marshes and swings its bill back and forth in the water. When it detects prey (such as small fish, crustaceans and other invertebrates) it scoops up the food in its bill.
I was lucky to see some of these beautiful birds fly overhead with the sun shining down through them. The sky turned pink coming through their feathers. No danger here, I'm not on the menu.
2 comments:
Hey, I've been to Coral Gables. :)
The Roseate Spoonbill looks really neat. You do such a great job finding these pics for us. And lots of fun and interesting facts about them, too. I hope the weather was better for walking today. Watch out for the rain tomorrow. *hugs*
I missed this entry my first pass through the blogs...*sigh* mind must be elsewhere.
Im in agreement with Alice, you're doing a wonderful job with this project.
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