The Wildlife Research Team Menagerie

This page is most definitely a work-in-progress, and is only the beginning of Christianna Cannon‘s long-cherished idea: an encyclopedia or guide to the creatures we might see from a WRT canoe. It is limited to South Florida, our home paddling area, but that still encompasses a number of habitats, to include the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, mangrove forests from Miami around the “bottom” of the peninsula up to Fort Myers, the Florida Keys, and the Big Cypress Reserve on Florida’s southwest coast.

The index below contains very basic lists using only their common names. As time goes on, each will be a link to a page with much more information, such as its scientific name, description, links to other sites, and hopefully our own photographs, with perhaps contributions by others. All written content will be original.

Yes, this is a massive project, but it serves to link our name to our canoes. You see, wildlife in much of our unique South Florida region has been forced to make a last stand in the ecotone, or fringe area between the land and the many waterways and coastal areas here. Human-paddled canoes (and kayaks) are proven to be the very best conveyance with which to view and research this slim ribbon of habitat and the animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that are striving to continue their species within. Fishes of all types are also part of our Menagerie, of course, even though they are hidden beneath our hulls.

South Florida is ground zero for sea level rise as the climate changes. Studying the effects upon our native (and introduced) species is tremendously important to our quality of life. Our Menagerie, and our page of South Florida Flora, will become a useful knowledge base as we continue to add to it. Please check back frequently!

We are eagerly seeking photographs of the featured fauna and flora, and of course will credit the photographer. Contact us at paddle4research@yahoo.com to learn more.

Land Mammals

Armadillo; Nine-Banded; Bat, Big Brown; Bat, Evening; Bat, Mexican Free-tailed; Bat, Northern Yellow; Bat, Seminole; Bear, Florida Black; Bobcat; Coyote; Deer, Key; Deer, Whitetail; Fox, Gray; Fox, Red; Hog/Pig, Feral; Mink, American; Mole, Eastern; Mouse, Cotton; Mouse, Eastern Harvest; Mouse, House; Opossum, Virginia; Otter, River; Panther, Florida; Rabbit, Black-tailed Jack; Rabbit, Eastern Cottontail; Rabbit, Marsh; Raccoon; Rat, Black; Rat, Brown; Rat, Cotton; Rat, Marsh Rice; Shrew, Southern Short-tailed; Skunk, Eastern Spotted; Skunk, Striped; Squirrel, Eastern Gray; Squirrel, Mexican Gray; Squirrel, Southern Flying

Marine Mammals

Dolphin, Bottlenose; Manatee, West Indian; Whale, Humpback; Whale, Pilot

Water-Loving Birds

Anhinga; Bittern, American; Coot; Cormorant, Double-Crested; Duck, Lesser Scaup; Duck, Mallard; Duck, Pintail; Egret, American (White); Egret, Cattle; Egret, Reddish; Egret, Snowy; Frigatebird, Magnificent; Gallinule, Purple; Gull, Laughing; Heron, Black-Crowned Night; Heron, Great Blue; Heron, Green; Heron, Little Blue; Heron, Tricolor (Louisiana); Heron, Yellow-Crowned Night; Ibis, White; Kingfisher, Belted; Limpkin; Pelican, Brown; Pelican, White; Skimmer, Black; Spoonbill, Roseate; Stork, Wood; Tern, Common; Tern, Royal

Predator Birds

Eagle, Southern Bald; Falcon, Peregrine; Hawk, Cooper’s; Hawk, Marsh; Hawk, Red-Shouldered; Hawk, Red-Tailed; Kestrel, American; Osprey; Owl, Barn; Owl, Barred; Owl, Burrowing; Owl, Great Horned; Owl, Screech; Shrike, Loggerhead (Butcher Bird); Vulture, Black; Vulture, Turkey

Perching Birds

Ani, Smooth-billed; Blackbird, Red-winged; Bunting, Indigo; Bunting, Painted; Cardinal; Catbird; Crow, American; Flicker, Northern; Grackle, Boat-tailed; Grackle, Common; Jay, Blue; Jay, Scrub; Martin, Purple; Mockingbird; Sparrow, House; Sparrow, Swamp; Starling, European; Swallow, Cliff; Thrasher, Brown; Warbler, Black-and-white; Warbler, Palm; Warbler, Yellowthroat; Woodpecker, Downy; Woodpecker, Pileated; Woodpecker, Red-headed; Woodpecker, Red-bellied; Wren, Carolina; Wren, House; Wren, Marsh

Reptiles and Amphibians

Alligator, American; Anaconda; Anole, Carolina (green); Anole, Cuban Brown; Anole, Horse; Crocodile, American; Frog, Cuban Tree; Frog, Squirrel Tree; Gecko; Iguana; Lizard, Brown Basilisk; Lizard, Glass aka Glass Snake; Newt; Salamander; Siren; Skink; Snake, Brown Water; Snake, Corn/Red Rat; Snake, Everglades Racer; Snake, Green Water; Snake, Hognose; Snake, Eastern Indigo; Snake, Florida King; Snake, Florida Banded Water; Snake, Mangrove Water; Snake, Pygmy Rattle; Snake, Python; Snake, Rat; Snake, Rattle; Snake, Rough Green; Snake, Water Moccasin/Cottonmouth; Terrapin (Turtle), Diamondback; Toad, Spadefoot; Toad, Giant Bufo/Cane; Tortoise, Gopher; Turtle, Atlantic Ridley Sea; Turtle, Florida Redbelly Cooter; Turtle, Florida Softshell; Turtle, Green Sea; Turtle, Hawksbill Sea; Turtle, Leatherback Sea; Turtle, Loggerhead Sea; Turtle, Mud; Turtle, Snapping; Turtle, Striped Mud

Fish, Freshwater

Bass, Largemouth; Bass, Peacock; Bass, Striped; Bluegill; Bream; Catfish; Cichlid, Mayan; Cichlid, Oscar; Crappie, Black; Gar, Florida; Pickerel; Sunfish; Tilapia, Blue

Fish, Saltwater and Brackish

 Barracuda; Catfish; Drum, Red; Eel, American; Gambusia/Mosquitofish; Gar, Alligator; Gar, Florida; Gobie; Grouper, Goliath; Grunt; Jack; Killifish; Minnow; Mollie; Mullet; Needlefish; Puffer; Ray, Eagle; Ray, Manta; Schoolmaster; Seatrout, Spotted; Shiner; Sunfish; Shark, Blacktip; Shark, Bull; Shark, Nurse; Sheepshead; Snapper, Gray; Snapper, Mangrove; Snapper, Red; Snook, Common; Tarpon