Zoology - Blog Posts

Hey everyone, 

The Sawgrass Nature Center is halfway to our minimum goal to provide free educational and professional development resources to Title I schools. These resources will include an environmental education program, a volunteer program, and professional skill building program. The professional skill building program will teach students how to write and build their resume, how to navigate an interview, and how to use social media is changing the job market. The volunteer program will provide them with skill building, hands-on experience at the Sawgrass Nature Center as well as a resume building and networking opportunity. The environmental education program will give them the chance to interact with wildlife and wildlife rehabbers in an educational environment. 

To qualify as a Title I school, 40% of the student body must be living below the poverty level. This funding will allow us to bring resources to typically underserved communities to help bridge the gap in job opportunities and educational quality between socio-economically distinguished groups. 

Please consider sharing or donating here: https://acommunitythrives.mightycause.com/story/Elzntf

Disclaimer: The SNC is continuing to take every necessary precaution to protect our employees and volunteers from COVID-19, including virtual programming. 

This juvenile red tailed hawk was brought to the SNC a few weeks ago after being found injured on a golf course. On Sep. 27 the hawk was successfully released back into the wild!

Red tailed hawks are native to Florida and, like all hawks, considered a bird of prey. Their large talons and sharp beaks are perfect for ripping and tearing their prey. It also makes them difficult patients. Luckily, our experienced rehabber was able to get the hawk all patched up and back into the wild in record time! 

In honor of World Animal Day, the SNC is spotlighting our Eurasian Collared Dove, named Ginger. Ginger was rescued from a pet store that wanted to put him down because of his inability to stand up straight. When he came to the SNC, we found that he could stand perfectly when he was given a proper perching space. 

Because Ginger is an exotic animal to Florida, we are not allowed to release him. Instead, he will live at the SNC with loving care takers as an Educational Ambassador. 

The Sawgrass Nature Center is home to an aviary of recovering and permanent winged residents. This blue jay is one of the many that are to be soon as you walk through the surrounding enclosure. 

This Wildlife Wednesday we are featuring our resident Red Rat Snake. This guy in particular has a permanent stay at the Nature Center due to a degenerative nerve disease that causes him to twitch. 

Rat Snakes are non-venomous, constrictor snakes. They also happen to be very skilled climbers, to the point where they have been known to scale brick walls! This helps them catch prey like lizards, small mammals, and hatchlings. 

Rat Snakes are popular in the pet trade and have been bred in many different colors and patterns.

It is Turtle Tuesday at the SNC with our Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Molly. Molly is a resident freshwater turtle that is used for many of our educational programs. 

Loggerhead Musk Turtles (Sternotherus minor) are mostly carnivorous, but have also been known to munch on plants. Their jaws are strong enough to crack the shells of small snails, crayfish, insects, and mollusks. 

They are found throughout the Southeast United States in a variety of clear, freshwater wetland areas. 

Fun Fact: When threatened, musk turtles will release a foul smelling musk and bite with their powerful jaws. 

This African Spur Thigh Tortoise is named Bubba and he is a permanent resident at the Sawgrass Nature Center. He was previously kept as a pet, but his owners did not realize that he would get this large. And since he is an exotic species to Florida, he is non-releasable. 

The African Spur-Thigh is a native species of tortoise to Northern Africa, specifically along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. They dig burrows in the ground to spend the hottest parts of the day in. This is known as aestivation. 

Fun fact: The African Spur Thigh Tortoise is the third largest tortoise in the world. Surpassed only by the Galapagos Tortoise and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise. 

This is one of our resident parrots, Fred. Fred and his partner in crime, Alice, were surrendered upon the death of their owner to the Sawgrass Nature Center. In captivity, this particular species of parrot can live up to 80 years. 

Raccoons like the pool to cool off, but they also use it to wash their hands and food. 

Our resident red rat snake has been with us for quite a few years now. He was brought to the SNC because he has a chronic neurological disease that prevents him from surviving on his own in the wild. The typical life span of red rat snakes in the wild is six to eight years. However, because this guy is getting a high grade diet and medical care, his lifespan is expected to be extended. 

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Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros.

Also known as the Bornean Sumatran Rhino. According to scientists, this animal is functionally extinct, meaning that the population will be unable to recover. About only 15 individuals exist in the wild. It is the smallest of all three subspecies, making it the smallest among all species of rhinos. Its fur is denser when young but becomes sparse and darker when grows.

The difference between this subspecies and the Western Sumatran Rhinoceros is mainly genetic.

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Reference: Eastern Sumatran Rhinoceros

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And with this rhino, I finish all the rhino family. This is my favorite animal and it was so enriching to work on this project because allowed me to know them better and be aware of how close many of them are to extinction (if not already extinct), after having survived millions of years of adaptation through evolution.

Think how sad would be that an animal who has survived the most abrupt changes on earth for thousands of centuries and has shown how strong and adaptative is, will succumb in less than two centuries because of our fault. Thanks again for your appreciation. If you like the content please follow my blog. One animal every week.

Deer Mouse species Poster.

A poster with all the Deer Mouse species. A family that I personally didn't know much about but that I also think is very interesting. Hasn't changed much over the years which means is so well adapted to its environment.

If you found your new love in these unusual deers, you can buy this poster in my store. It's perfect for those animal lovers and also could be a nice present. Good illustrations, their conservation status, and their scientific names. Just click here.

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Thank you guys for your interest translated in love, likes, reblogs, follows, and buys. It keeps my spirit high. I truly feel supported and more energetic than ever to keep investigating and illustrating animals. Send love to everyone. The next family is a unique one. Stay tuned

Gray Whale

The last member of the balaenopteridae family: The Gray Whale. (you might wonder why the sperm whale is not included but that one belongs to another family closer to dolphins as orcas do. I didn't know that)

This one habitat is way more reduced but its number is fine. Also called the Evil whale because it was a fierce fighter when hunted. (I wonder if there would be any animal who wouldn't fight for its life)

It is a very distinctive whale and the only extant of its family with its last relatives seen in the Neogene era.

Maybe the most notable marks are the withe spots all around its body product of scars left by parasites that fall off when is on cold grounds.

Three specimens were kept captive through history. The first one called Gigi in 1965 died two months after. However, in 1972 another catch called Gigi II, was held for a year after grew too much and had to be released. A third one was kept captive in SeaWorld San Diego for 14 months and also was released because of its size.

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Whales are ugly, or not. Probably both. On one side they look like a deformed giant body with a massive mouth that when opens make the animal looks even weirder. But then a beautiful tale swipes with force and breaks the ocean's surface and is accompanied by a pair of powerful fins that make that weird body moves gracefully as if it's dancing. It's a perfect combination of grotesque and beauty that combined with its size made us fall in love with it. ______

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Sei Whale

Is the third-largest rorqual before the Fin whale and the Blue whale. Heavily hunted in the XIX and XX century its numbers dropped from 250.000 to 80.000 which in other words mean less than a third of the pre whaling population. Today luckily is protected.

Mass deaths events have been recorded numerous times and the reason why isn't clear but it appears to be endemic poisoning called red tide. It is a phenomenon of decoloration of the sea surface that occurs by an overpopulation of certain microorganisms, apparently caused by the unprecedented warming of the Pacific Ocean. The biggest mass death event documented happened in Chile in June 2015 where 337 death Sei Whales were counted.

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Rice's Whale I can proudly say this is one of the few illustrations done of this new species, the Rice's Whale. Named in 2021, It was previously thought to be a subpopulation of the Bryde's Whale until further studies proved the opposite.

The sad news is that is critically endangered and along with the vaquita, those are two of the most scarce cetaceans in the world which happened to inhabit the same environment. The causes of its decline are still unclear but are believed to be because of the industrialization of the Gulf of Mexico.

The oil spill disaster in 2010 killed nearly 20% of its population.

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Eden's Whale Little is know about this whale since is thought to be a smaller form of Bryde's Whale and no studies have been done to corroborate this assumption or treat it as a different species. Still, its size can reach up to 11 meters and weigh up to 20 tons. Usually seen in pair or single individuals, still can form groups of 20 animals around feeding areas. The Bryde's whale and Eden's whale share morphological similarities making them had to identify. _________ Show me your love liking and sharing my content. Thank you!. Instagram Store

Whales are divided into three families. This is the second and biggest: the Balaenopteridae, which contains the biggest animal that ever inhabits the earth. However, we will start with its smallest member but also the fastest: the Mink Whale. This is the most common whale and is probably due to its not being commonly hunted by humans. Its size is too small (about 10m) and does not have enough oil yield, so hunting it is not worth it. Nonetheless, the hunting of this whale has increased.

Its name is confusing because it was first confused and classified wrongly. Its name is derived from the Norwegians who usually refer to any type of small whale as Minkie or Minkies' hval.

The Dwarf Mink Whale was described as a new subspecies not long ago and it is not sure yet if is one. Still has not scientific name. Mink Whale in captivity.

Mink whale has been tried to keep in captivity in Mito Aquarium, in Japan a few times. Most of the specimens died in few weeks while in 1956, the last one was able to scape a net aquarium after 37 days spinning the pool in the same direction.

____ I'm really ignorant of whales and most of this information is new to me. It is very hard to understand the information and translated it into something that I am able to explain. I hope is understood. ____ Thanks for your support. Likes, reblogging, or follows are very much appreciated.

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Poster Balaenidae and Cetotheriidae Family. Although not related, however similar and for many years thought to belong to the same family, The Pygmy Right Whale is the only extant member of the Cetotheriidae family. Despite its size, The biggest difference from the Balaenidae family is that the Pygmy whale has a dorsal fin and its mouth is not as big in proportion to its body as the other Right Whales. You can purchase this poster here

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Pygmy Right Whale

I had no idea this one exists. How awesome can be a small version of a right whale? Here it is, the Pygmy Right Whale.

Not much is known about this animal since is one of the whales that has been studied the less. Often confused at sight with the Minke Whale, observation of the Pygmy Right Whale is rather scarce. Lives in the Southern Hemisphere in waters of temperatures that range from 5 to 20 °C.

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Right Whales:

The other genus of the Balaenidae family is composed of three species. The three of them are mostly distinguished from each other by distribution or genetic analysis.

The particularity of this genus is the callosities that grow below its mandible that provide the perfect habitat for colonies of whale lice, a form of crustacean, that cannot live in open waters and found this whale the perfect way to travel comfortably. It is a *symbiosis, however, scientists cannot explain concretely why.

Among the three, the Southern Right Whale is the only one that is not in danger, being the North Atlantic Right Whale the one in most critical danger of extinction. This is probably related to its whereabouts which is in areas where humans have been doing whaling for centuries.

I am actually not in total disagreeing with whaling. Not that I will ever participate in such an event or even try something that comes from a whale. However, in some cultures is ingraining for centuries and was extremely important for the survival of humans.

Whaling should be banned today? For us might be a big bold no as an answer because it doesn't affect us at all. But what about if the consumption of chicken or cow is banned? We might say that there is not a relation between both. However, some cultures see the consumption of whales in the way we see the consumption of chicken. Are chicken endangered? Of course not, but the way we are consuming it is putting in danger the whole planet.

Maybe whales are way more charismatic, mysterious and magnificent than chickens but in the end, they both are living beings and if we are going to advocate for one, we should advocate for both. Just to be fair.

*Symbiosis: interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.

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Moving up to the giants of the kingdom and favorite of many: The Whales. It is a numerous family in which my knowledge is limited. However, that is why this blog is for, so we all know a little better the beings that surround us. Get to illustrate them wasn't so easy since there is no picture of the whole body of the whale, so I had to combine different illustrations and read about the descriptions of the animal to get the most accurate perspective of the animal.

Bowhead Whale This one is famous because of its particular jaw that has been portrayed in many antique illustrations of sea monsters. Far from the reputation those illustrations can bring, this animal is not aggressive and there is not a single attack registered on humans. Probably with any whale. The most noticeable particularity of this whale is its head which has the biggest mouth proportions in the animal kingdom. Its baleen is used to strain tiny prey from the water and is the biggest of any other whale. It is usually a solitary giant but can be seen in small groups of a maximum of six individuals. Slow swimmer and can be underwater for up to one hour. Believed to be an average diver, still can reach 150 meters deep. I thought was in danger but the reality is that its numbers are steady and growing. However, climate change can affect its numbers since is an animal that inhabits the waters of the North pole.

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Poster of all the Hippos

The poster with all the hippos is ready to be on your wall. You can get it now on my store by clinking on the link below. They range from various sizes and prices.

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Next family is a huge one. Actually the biggest. Any guess?

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Now we are moving to a small but vey charismatic family: The hippos. I think this is an animals that is loved by the majority. Looking at its massive size combined with its features is understandable why. 

However don’t get mistaken. This animal is a fierce and the one to blame for the most fatalities in Africa. it is a very territorial animal that won’t hesitate to charge if threatened or feeling its territory invaded. The biggest problem with humans happens usually at nights, when the animal leaves the rivers to graze moving various kilometers away from river basins, encountering unaware humans. Running it’s the only option but not a sure escape since despite its weight, hippos can reach up to 50km/h. 

Hippos depends on rivers because it’s skin, which is actually pink, cannot resist the sunlight and will dry fast. And despite living its majority of time in water, they are unable to swim. 

5 subspecies have been named but just three are recognized nowadays and they are still subjected to changes. 

Male hippos fights are barbaric and they mostly happen to get the best spot in the river which will attract the most females. Once a male is dethrone, the new king won’t hesitate on killing the offspring of the old king in order to began leaving its own genes. 

Hippos in Colombia? Unfortunately, yes. Not because I don’t like them (I’m Colombian) but because they have become a threat to other endemic species of the country. Hippos were brought to Colombia illegally by narco’s most famous Pablo Escobar and were put in its private zoo. When he was killed, the zoo closed but the hippos and some other animals were left in the area. While some animals died, the hippos however, flourished. Today, they occupied a vast area of the country and they begin to clash with other animals such as the inoffensive manatees. 

While they yet don’t represent a threat to humans (some attacks have been registered) because they are not as territorial as in Africa. (It is believe because they have a larger area to develop) if the quantity keeps growing, they will become as dangerous as in Africa. For now, people greeted in towns because of its natural charm and can become touristic attraction. There are some possible solutions to this issue. One will be to sterilize all males, which is kind of unthinkable because of how expensive this could be. Other will be to send them to various zoos around the world, which is still not enough and  the last one will be to kill them all. I have an opinion about it but I would love to hear yours.

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New design, Better Illustrations! I was thinking for a while in a way to improve the layout of this blog and I feel that this way is much better. I think the layout should highlight the drawings so I decided to remove many other elements that somehow stole its attention. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks again for your support, likes, reblog and follows, means a lot. If you like this content it will help me a lot if you follow my Tumblr or if you share it. Also, every comment is very welcome. I am not an expert in the topic so if you have something to add, or something you thinks is incorrect, I will be more than happy to discuss it with you. Thank you! 

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The poster of the Camelidae family. What I like from this work is that I can see the improvement of my illustration. From the time that I began to now, I have put more attention to detail an accuracy keeping in mind that subspecies differences are often very small. I love what I am doing and I love to share it with all of you.

If you want to have this nice piece hanging in your wall, just follow the link below. They come in different sizes, prices and mediums. It will help me a lot. Also a like would be nice. Thank you all for your support. PD. On my instagram I will post the animals but as well part of the illustration process.

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Vicuña The last species of the family and the smallest too. And like many small things it is also the most precious treasure. The wool of the vicuña is among the most expensive textiles worldwide. A meter square can reach an impressive $3000 US. being mostly exclusive for the most prestigious high couture brands in the world. 

In a move that I found very smart from the governments where the animal can be found, is that the exportation of these animals is strictly prohibited making these countries the only ones who can manage the vicuña’s wool business. Good for them!

Once widespread in millions, it was vastly hunted when the conquerors discovered America (A repeated story), until 1950 where its numbers plumped to mere 10.000. Today is heavily protected and its situation is stable. However,  Scientist state that its stable population depends of the different laws of protection. If those laws would be lifted, the animal will be at the brick of extinction in just five years.

The next family is a very grumpy cute looking giant. 

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I’ve been improving the illustrations of the animals making it more realistic in order for the information to be clearer. Can you tell the difference of these ones compare to the previous ones?

Thanks again for your support, likes, reblog and follows, means a lot to me. Don’t forget that if you want to buy some of the posters of the previous families of animals you can find them here: Poster of Species   On my Instagram account, I’m planning to post part of the illustration process. Don’t miss it:  Species of the World See you next time.

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The Guanaco is a smaller member of the camelidae family also inhabits the andes in South America. 

The information found about this animal is a little bit confusing. While some pages put the animal in an endangered status, some others put it in a Least Concern status. However looking at the numbers of some of the subspecies, I came to the conclusion that it might be a endangered species.

Another issue was that some pages state that it is composed by four subspecies, some other just recognized two ( Guanaco and Guanaco Norteño) saying that the differences are not yet proved and the distribution is unclear.

This just proves how much is still to be done in the animal kingdom and how easy can become a topic of controversy among biologist. Time will give the reason to either of the two theories while some other questions surely arise. Fascinating!

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Thanks again for the interest on my Tumblr. If you like the content please follow me. Every ten days a new animal explained and illustrated. Likes and reblog are also highly appreciated. To me is so interesting to study animals and share what I learn. I also think is important people get to know about them too, because we cannot protect what we don’t know exist.

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Alpaca The beginnings of the Alpaca is more related to the Vicuña but it has been recently breed with Llamas. It’s domestication is been happening for thousand years and contrary to the Llama who was domesticated as a working animal and wool provider, the Alpaca is been domesticated exclusively for its wool, which can be used extensively.

As common as it is now, the Alpaca was at the brick of the extinction in the 1500′s when the Spanish discovered America. They decimated the species at the point that it was believed extinct. However, the animal move to higher altitudes, where later, in the XIX century was rediscovered. As a domestic animal, today can be seen everywhere in the world. It’s domestication and maintenance is not difficult.

The differences between the two breeds are remarkably visible.

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Unlike the horses, this time is different. If Asia has camels as war machines, South America has its equivalent: The Llama.

I don’t think there is any other animal that involves cultural symbolism, evolution of a civilization and an inexhaustible source as the Lama for the Inca culture. This animal was vital in the bloomed of Inca’s civilization.

Its wool made them capable to conquer highs that were unthinkable in any other way, not just because its endurance but because its wool that protect Incas from the freezing temperatures. 

Regarded also as a noble symbol, Incas were often buried with llamas and one of it’s Gods, Urcuchillay, was depicted as a Llama. 

Probably it’s only enemy are the pumas, making this animal, as the camel, an infalible machine against nature. Studying this family made think of how hard can be for life to thrive in certain conditions. It makes feel as is nature is really testing its inhabitants in a fearfully battle for survival, where the loser, the one that cannot adapt will be invariably, extinct.

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Thanks for the support and for taking the time to read and follow my post. If you like the content just follow me for more curiosities from the animal kingdom.

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Let me introduce you to one of the strongest family, the Camelidus.  I still remember vividly the first time I saw a camel in my life. I was no more than ten years old and I couldn’t believe my eyes how massive this animals are. Somehow I got amazed. How awkward it feels by its long extremities that seem they don’t have full control. Or the unmanageable long neck that is crowned for a head that I’m sure was the idea for many monsters of Star Wars. At first glance, it look like if many mistakes came together to create this animal. 

However, how wrong I was. If there is an animal that defy nature in its extremes conditions, it will be the camel and its relatives. They can live literally everywhere. From the coldest to the hottest, and can flourish even when abundance is limited. Excellent distance devourers and the best administrating water. Their sight is exceptional and can run at a formidable speed. Their bodies are made to take the best from the worst the environment can provide. 

If the horse was crucial in human evolution, the taming of the camel I’d like to think was rather smart. A living tank where locomotive transportation wasn’t even a coarse sketch, that provides more than the indispensable to survive in the worst conditions. ___

Wild Bactrian Camels where thought to be just feral Camels that escaped to the wild. However, further genetic studies proved that is a different species that diverged from the Bactrian Camel more than a million years ago. 

It is critically endangered and is recognized as the eighth most endangered large mammal in the world, remaining no more than 1400 specimens in the wild. Illegal hunting, habitat destruction, hybridization with domestic camels, and the competence for resources with domestic stock are some of the main threats for this animal.

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I hope you are enjoying this content. it will help me a lot if you follow my Tumblr or if you share my post. Every comment is very welcome. I am not an expert in the topic so if you have something to add, or something you thinks is incorrect, I will be more than happy to discuss it with you. And if you want to support me even more, there are some nice posters you can buy in my store in the link below. Thank you!!

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 Follow my Instagram: Species of the World