In case you missed them, we’ve compiled our feature stories from 2024.
But these sea turtles face a hidden danger – boat strikes.
Pristis pectinata The sawfish derives its name from its elongated, blade-like snout, that is studded with „teeth“. While they look similar to sharks, they are actually highly derived rays. The smalltooth sawfish is one of five species of sawfishes found worldwide. Historically, the species had a
Danger to Humans Humans are not in any direct danger from the sawfish.
Mustelus californicus This small, slender shark has a pointed snout and large oval eyes, and triangular fins with a lobed, asymmetrical caudal (tail) fin. Brownish gray on top and fading to a light underbelly, they usually grow to 46 inches long, but some females have been measured at 64 inches.
Danger to Humans This small shark is considered harmless to humans.
Long before tourists arrived in the Bahamas, ancient visitors took up residence in this archipelago off Florida’s coast and left remains offering stark evidence that the arrival of humans can permanently change – and eliminate – life on what had been isolated islands. The unusual discovery of
Life on Earth Unique dove species is the dodo of the Caribbean and in similar danger
Fenestraja sinusmexicanus This deep-water, bottom-dwelling skate has a heart-shaped pectoral disc that is reddish brown to purple on top and pale yellowish underneath. There are several rows of thorns around the edge of the pectoral fins and down the spine of the skate, onto its slender, long tai
Danger to Humans This skate is considered harmless to humans.
Your bird field guide may be out of date now that Florida Museum of Natural History scientists discovered a new genus of frogmouth bird on a South Pacific island. New genera of living birds are rare discoveries — fewer than one per year is announced globally. David Steadman and Andrew Kratte
Life on Earth Unique dove species is the dodo of the Caribbean and in similar danger
Arachnologists (spider scientists) are studying how color impacts spider behavior. Male Coloration Colorful markings paired with a flashy dance might tell a female jumping spider that a male is the right species, and ready to mate. Colors give females subtle information and only males in
Voracious Visual Predators For visual predators, bright colors in prey often warn of danger
The Florida Museum of Natural History’s Environmental Archaeology Program received a nearly $800,000 National Science Foundation grant to curate some of its most delicate specimens and vital data, documenting 14,000 years of biodiversity in vulnerable regions around the Caribbean. Environmental a
damaged material and digitize handwritten specimen labels and other information in danger
The remnants of an Indian village destroyed by war almost two centuries ago reveal the Seminoles were actually blending into the American melting pot before they were driven to the swamps of South Florida, say Florida Museum of Natural History researchers. In a search for clues to what life w
Warned of the approaching danger by a black ally of the Seminoles, the Indian residents
Cetorhinus maximus This slow-moving migratory shark is the second largest fish, growing as long as 40 feet and weighing over 5 tons. It is often sighted swimming close to the surface, huge mouth open, filtering 2,000 tons of seawater per hour over its complicated gills to scoop up zooplankton. Ba
Basking sharks are passive and no danger to humans in general, but they are large
