It's A Small World Zoom Microscope: Look through the microscope to see an enlarged fly leg and wing, tick, money, computer chip, feathers, dragon fly eye, and a shark's tooth.

Sponsor: Mike and Sara Morrison, Peter Bentz. Microscope was donated by Intersil.

Living Lagoon Kiosk: Use a touch-screen kiosk to explore the Indian River Lagoon and its animal habitats.

Sponsor: Habour Branch Oceanographic Institution

Exploration Table: Use our tripod magnifiers and hand lenses to explore Florida natural treasures.

Panther Perspective” Kiosk: Use this touch-screen kiosk to learn more about our Florida Panther and its habitat.

Sponsor: Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institution

Florida's State Saltwater Fish -- The Sailfish

Despite its large sail, the sailfish resembles a torpedo when swimming, and can reach speeds of 60 mph. Average size and weight taken from Florida waters is 7' and 27 pounds. A female sailfish releases several million eggs each year. A fertilized egg hatches within a day and a half, and by the end of the first year of life, a fish may have attained 6' in length.

Florida's State Reptile -- The Alligator

Alligators are found throughout Florida and in parts of other southeastern states. They prefer wetland habitats like lakes, swamps, and canals. Alligators eat fish, turtles, and a variety of other animals. In late June and early July, female alligators usually lay thirty to fifty eggs in mound-shaped nests made of reeds and other plants. Baby alligators hatch after about two months. When hatched, alligators are already fully developed and about eight inches long. Mature alligators usually range from six to twelve feet in length. Gators can move surprisingly fast over short distances, and their powerful jaws and swinging tails make them dangerous to approach. Alligators should not be fed, since this causes them to lose their fear of humans. The best thing to do if you find an alligator is to leave it alone!

The zebra longwing butterfly is commonly spotted in south Florida. The zebra longwing roosts in a flock with its other longwings. The longwing sleeps so soundly that you can literally pick it off its roost and return it later, without waking any of the rest of its family. The longwing is so comfortable with its perch, that it returns there every night. Longwings love dining on the sweet nectar of passion flowers.

Florida's State Marine Mammal -- The Manatee

The main place the manatee is found in the United States is Florida. The State Marine Mammal is an 8'-14' gray, waterplant-eating, gentle giant that can weigh more than a ton.Manatee may have developed from the Hatian word "manati," which means "big beaver." The mose likely derivation of the name comes from the Latin "manatus" - meaning "furnished with hands." The manatee's flippers can appear almost hand-like from a distance. That observation plus the presence of a tail perhaps created the legend that manatees were "mermaids." Of all the known causes of manatee mortality, man is responsible for about half of the deaths. The manatee is on the endangered species list, but chances for its survival are good if man's activities can be controlled. The single greatest-known cause of mortality is boats and barges.

In 1991 the flower of the genus Coreopsis was designated as Florida's official wildflower. This flower is found in a variety of colors, ranging from golden to pink. The state legislature chose the Coreopsis after the colorful flowers were used in Florida's highway beautification programs.

Florida's State Saltwater Mammal -- The Porpoise

The porpoise, along with dolphin and the whale, all belong to the mammalian order Cetacea. The porpoise is generally smaller and does not possess the characteristic 3" bottle-nose of the dolphin. The playful porpoise is gray or black and is slightly lighter on its underside. It can live to the age of 30, most porpoises are 6' to 8' long. A system of echolocation - much like sonar - directs them as they swim through the water. Test have determined the intelligence level of porpoises to be between that of a dog and the chimpanzee.

Florida's State Freshwater Fish -- The Largemouth Bass

The largemouth bass seems to grow to unusually large in Florida waters. This bass is an elongated sunfish, whose distinguishing feature, besides its large mouth, is a deep notch in the dorsal fin. Each spring, male bass dig nests by brushing clear a circular area over a gravel bottom. Then female bass lay up to 25,000 eggs! The eggs become fingerlings (baby fish) in three to six days, and remain in schools as they grow.

Florida's State Flower -- The Orange Blossom

The orange blossom was designated State Flower on Nov. 15, 1909. Millions of these white flowers bloom throughout central and south Florida during orange blossom time. It is one of the most fragrant flowers in Florida. That means it smells great!

Florida's State Animal -- The Florida Panther

The Florida Panther is a large tan/pale brown cat. Many folktakes surround these cats, and they have been hunted out of fear and misunderstanding of the role these cats play in Florida's ecosystem. Humans have been the primary threat to the panther's habitat. The Panther has been protected from legal hunting in Florida since 1958. The future of this large animal depends entirely on the management decisions that are made today by humans on its behalf.

The mockingbird is wonderful songbird and mimic.There are ten species of mockingbirds and all are very much alike -- about 10" long, with a 15" wingspan, grayish upper portions, white undersides, and white patches on the tail and wings. The nest, is a joint male/female project. It is a bulky, cup of grass, twigs and rootlets carelessly arranged in dense follage. There are 3-6 eggs per nest, and are a pale blue-greenish with brown spots. The mockingbird is known for its fierce defense of the family nest.

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