These three giraffes (baby, older juvenile, adult) arranged themselves symmetrically for less than a second. (These may be Masai giraffes, I’m not sure. The facility identifies them only as “giraffes”.) Photo taken at the Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, FL.
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African Rock Python
The largest known snake in Africa, this beautiful thing can get up to 25 feet long. Photo taken at the Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, FL.
Military Macaw
This species of parrot gets its name from its green plumage, which resembles a military uniform. Photo taken at the Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, FL.
Grevy’s Zebra
Grevy’s zebra is the largest of the three zebra species. This one was in an exhibit standing below me, and found my camera interesting. Photo taken at the Brevard Zoo, Melbourne, FL.
Banana Spider
Huge but harmless, this lovely lady is about four inches across. A male of the species is only about 1/4 her size. These spiders are commonly called “banana spiders” not so much because they are yellow, but because they are often found among bunches of bananas during harvesting. I originally found this species described as…
Gopher Tortoise
The gopher tortoise is a protected species. They dig burrows which provide shelter for hundreds of other species of animals. I stayed out of his way! Photos taken at the Oakland Nature Preserve, Oakland, FL.
Orchard Orb Weaver
Maybe half an inch long, including the legs — many even smaller. Orchard orb weaver spiders are almost invisible at a distance, and tiny rainbows when seen up close. They come in a variety of patterns featuring neons and bright colors against black. They hang upside down in the center of their webs waiting for…
Greenhouse Frog
To get an idea of how big this frog isn’t, check out the dead bee over on the right side of the photo. This tiny frog is only about 20mm long!
Dark Flower Scarab
A plain little beetle with a beautiful name — meet Euphoria sepulcralis, the dark flower scarab beetle. Common throughout Florida and the east coast; an occasional pest if enough of them get together. This one is about 14mm long.
Southern Toad
The Southern toad is an actual native Florida species, often confused with the invasive cane toad. It is smaller than the cane toad (about 90mm long) and can also be differentiated due to the two ridges on the tops of their heads, ending in big “knobs” behind the eyes. (Cane toads lack these ridges.) Southern…
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A Cavalier King Charles spaniel who came to visit for almost a month, along with his sister. Never have I witnessed so cute a nose. Cavalier spaniels are bred specifically for this soulful expression, and for a singular interest in human companionship. They are a surprisingly agile and versatile dog breed, suitable for lap cuddles…
Long-jawed Orb Weaver
Sadly, I can’t narrow this down past the family Tetragnatha, but it’s definitely a long-jawed orb weaver spider. The long-jawed orb weavers are notable first, ironically enough, for their immense forelegs, which they hold stretched out in front of them, giving the spider a very long profile. It uses these forelegs to grab prey. Secondarily…