Wonders of Nature

Be sure to check back each week as this page will have a new
Featured Creature weekly, with new photos, fun and information to get you
all involved in the wonders of nature.

The answer to each week's Critter Quiz becomes the Featured Creature the following week.

Click HERE - the answer is there waiting for you!

If you have photos that you would like to submit for consideration as the Featured Creature
please email Wonders of Nature

I am an insect. I am a striking bright orange in color. Compared to other
similar animals I have long, rather narrow wings. I use my wings to fly from
flower to flower drinking nectar with my proboscis. Part of my name
comes from my migrating flights often seen over the Gulf of Mexico. As a
larva, or caterpillar, I am bright orange in color and covered in rows of
black spines. The spines are soft to the touch and do not sting, but the
bright orange color protects me from being eaten by warning predators
how poisonous I am. I am commonly seen in parks and gardens of South
and Central America and the southern parts of the US. Who am I?

Matt took these pictures of a
green tree frog in Sawgrass
Park, St Pete.

Green Tree Frogs make their
homes in swamps and lakes,
of which we have plenty
here in Florida. If you want
to see a Green Tree Frog in
the daytime you should look
in trees and bushes near
water, on floating vegetation
in ponds and swamps, in

or windowsills preying on
insects attracted by the
artificial light. The Green
Tree Frog is not poisonous
like many other frogs but
shouldn't be picked up -
since they can undergo a
certain amount of stress
this way and become sick
or even die because of it.
The scientific name for the
American Green Tree
Frog is Hyla cinerea.

Spanish moss or under bark on trees. At night you might not even need to
stray from your own backyard - if you have outdoor lights there is a good
chance that you might find a Green Tree Frog clinging to your house windows

· There are around 3,900 species of frogs and toads. They can be found
on every continent except Antarctica.

· Frogs have very special skin. They can drink and breathe through it.
Frogs don't usually swallow water, instead they absorb most of the
moisture they need through their skin.

· When frogs swallow their food, they do not
truly swallow but rather close their eyes, which
have no sockets and so go down into their head
pushing the food down their throat.

· Frogs are one of the best leapers on the planet!
Some species can launch themselves over 20 times
their own length! That would be like the average human
jumping approximately 100 feet!

· Because frogs are such special little creatures, 2008 is the
Year of the Frog in many zoos across America. Check out your
local zoo and see what fun events are going on to celebrate frogs!