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Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a Florida State Park and National Natural Landmark located northwest of Fort White off State Road 47 and State Road 238. It centers around the Ichetucknee River, which flows through shaded hammocks and wetlands into the Santa Fe River. The park contains hardwood hammock and limestone outcrops. Like many rivers in this part of North Florida, the Ichetucknee is fed by natural springs which boil up (in various holes) from the aquifer. The state of Florida purchased the property in 1970 from the Loncala Phosphate Corporation for $1,850,000. History Phosphate Mining Exploration mining for phosphate began prior to the start of the 20th century, which consisted of mule and wheelbarrow-assisted excavation. Later, boilers, pumps and steam shovels were used to extract ores. Compared to present-day methods, the early phase of mining used were less intrusive. The Loncala Era During the 1950s and 1960s, Loncala Phosphate Company owned the l ...
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Columbia County, Florida
Columbia County is a County (United States), county located in the North Central Florida, north central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 69,698, up from 67,531 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. Its county seat is Lake City, Florida, Lake City. Columbia County comprises the Lake City, FL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Gainesville, Florida, Gainesville-Lake City, FL Gainesville, Florida metropolitan area, Combined Statistical Area. Osceola National Forest is partially in Columbia County. History After Florida became a Florida Territory, territory of the United States in 1821, pioneer and immigrant settlers from the United States formed their own settlement adjacent to a Seminole village called Alligator Village, and called it Alligator. Following the 1823 Treaty of Moultrie Creek, the residents of Alligator village relocated to the banks of Peace Creek in the newly establ ...
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Wild Turkey
The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of Turkey (bird), turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey (''M. g. domesticus''), which was originally derived from a southern Mexican subspecies of wild turkey (not the related ocellated turkey). Taxonomy The wild turkey was Species description, formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, tenth edition of his ''Systema Naturae'' under its current binomial nomenclature, binomial name ''Meleagris gallopavo''. The type locality (biology), type locality is Mexico. The genus name ''Meleagris'' is from Ancient Greek μελεαγρις/''meleagris'' meaning "guineafowl". The specific epithet ''gallopavo'' is a late Medieval Latin word for a wild turkey: it combines Latin ''gallus'' meaning "fowl" and ''pavo'' meaning "peacock". The word was used in 155 ...
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Mullet (fish)
The mullets or grey mullets are a family (biology), family (Mugilidae) of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Southern Europe, Mediterranean Europe since Roman Empire, Roman times. In ancient Egypt they ate pickled and dried mullet called fesikh. The family includes about 78 species in 26 genera. Mullets are distinguished by the presence of two separate dorsal fins, small triangular mouths, and the absence of a lateral line organ. They feed on detritus, and most species have unusually muscular stomachs and a complex pharynx to help in digestion. Classification and naming Taxonomy (biology), Taxonomically, the family is placed in the order Mugiliformes, which is named after it. Until recently, it was considered the only member of Mugiliformes, but more recent taxonomic treatments suggest that they are closely related to the Ambassidae, Asiatic glassfish ...
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Alligator Gar
The alligator gar (''Atractosteus spatula'') is a euryhaline ray-finned fish in the clade Ginglymodi of the infraclass Holostei , being most closely related to the bowfins. It is the largest species in the gar family (biology), family (Lepisosteidae), and is among the largest freshwater fishes in North America. The fossil record traces its group's existence back to the Early Cretaceous over 100 million years ago. Gars are often referred to as "primitive fishes" or "living fossils", because they have retained some Morphological (biology), morphological characteristics of their early ancestors, such as a spiral valve intestine, which is also common to the digestive system of sharks, and the ability to breathe in both air and water. Their common name was derived from their resemblance to the American alligator, particularly their broad snouts and long, sharp teeth. It is suggested that an alligator gar can grow up to in length. The body of an alligator gar is torpedo-shaped, usual ...
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Largemouth Bass
The largemouth bass (''Micropterus nigricans'') is a carnivorous, freshwater fish, freshwater, ray-finned fish in the Centrarchidae (sunfish) family, native to the eastern United States, eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada and northern Mexico. It is known by a variety of regional names, such as the widemouth bass, ''bigmouth bass'', ''black bass'', ''largie'', Potter's fish, Florida bass or ''Florida largemouth'', ''green bass'', bucketmouth bass, ''green trout'', growler, Gilsdorf bass, Oswego bass, LMB, and southern largemouth and northern largemouth. The largemouth bass, as it is known today, was first described by French naturalist Georges Cuvier in 1828. A recent study concluded that the correct scientific name for the Florida bass is ''Micropterus salmoides'', while the largemouth bass is ''Micropterus nigricans''. It is the largest species of the black bass, with a maximum recorded length of and an unofficial weight of . The largemouth bass is the Lis ...
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Bluegill
The bluegill (''Lepomis macrochirus''), sometimes referred to as "bream", "brim", "sunny", or, in Texas, "copper nose", is a species of North American freshwater fish, native to and commonly found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands east of the Rocky Mountains. It is the type species of the genus ''Lepomis'' (true sunfish), from the family (biology), family Centrarchidae (sunfishes, crappies and black basses) in the order (biology), order Centrarchiformes. Bluegills can grow up to long and about . While their color can vary from population to population, they typically have a very distinctive coloring, with deep blue and purple on the face and gill cover, dark olive-colored bands down the side, and a fiery orange to yellow belly. They are omnivorous and will consume anything they can fit in their mouth, but mostly feed on small aquatic insects and baitfishes. The fish are important prey for bass (fish), bass, other larger Centrarchidae, sunfish, northern pike and musk ...
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Bream
Bream (, ) are species of freshwater fish belonging to a variety of genera including '' Abramis'' (e.g., ''A. brama'', the common bream), '' Ballerus'', '' Blicca'', '' Brama'', '' Chilotilapia'', '' Etelis'', '' Lepomis'', '' Gymnocranius'', '' Lethrinus'', '' Nemipterus'', '' Pharyngochromis'', '' Rhabdosargus'', '' Scolopsis'', or '' Serranochromis''. Although species from all of these genera are called "bream", the term does not imply a degree of relatedness between them. Fish termed "bream" tend to be narrow, deep-bodied species. The name is a derivation of the Middle English word ''breme'', of Old French origin. Marine species The term sea bream is sometimes used for fish of the family (biology)">family Sparidae including ''Acanthopagrus'' (Australia), ''Argyrops spinifer, Argyrops'', gilt-head bream ''Sparus aurata'' (''orata'' in Italy, ''dorada'' in Spain), black seabream ''Spondyliosoma cantharus'' and red seabream '' Pagrus'' or '' Pagellus'' species; or pomfre ...
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Crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the infraorder Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. Taxonomically, they are members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea. They breathe through feather-like gills. Some species are found in brooks and streams, where fresh water is running, while others thrive in swamps, ditches, and paddy fields. Most crayfish cannot tolerate polluted water, although some species, such as '' Procambarus clarkii'', are hardier. Crayfish feed on animals and plants, either living or decomposing, and detritus. The term "crayfish" is applied to saltwater species in some countries. Terminology The name "crayfish" comes from the Old French word ' ( Modern French '). The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" ( French language">Modern French '). The word has been modified to "crayfish" by association with "fish" ( American variant "crawfish" is similarly derived. Some kinds of crayfish are known lo ...
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West Indian Manatee
The West Indian manatee (''Trichechus manatus''), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the Eastern United States to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on underwater plants and uses its whiskers to navigate. It is divided into two subspecies, the Florida manatee (''T. m. latirostris'') in the United States and the Antillean manatee (''T. m. manatus'') in the Caribbean, both of which are endangered and face pressure from habitat loss, pollution, and other human activity. The West Indian manatee is the largest living member of the sirenians (order Sirenia), a group of large aquatic mammals that includes the dugong, other manatees, and the extinct Steller's sea cow. Manatees are herbivores, have developed vocal communication abilities, and are covered in highly sensitive whiskers (called vibrissae) that are used for feeding and navigation. In breeding season, several males form mating ...
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North American River Otter
The North American river otter (''Lontra canadensis''), also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that endemism, lives only on the North American continent throughout most of Canada, along the coasts of the United States and its inland waterways. An adult North American river otter can weigh between . The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. The North American river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. It establishes a burrow close to the water's edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young. North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most ...
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Nerodia
''Nerodia'' is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as water snakes due to their aquatic behavior. The genus includes nine species, all native to North America. Five of the species have recognized subspecies. Description ''Nerodia'' species vary greatly, but all are relatively heavy-bodied snakes, sometimes growing to 1.2 m (4 feet) or longer in total length (including tail). They have flattened heads, with small eyes that have round pupils, and keeled dorsal scales. Species like '' N. fasciata'' display distinct banding, whereas other species, like '' N. erythrogaster'', have blotching, and those like '' N. rhombifer'' have diamond-shaped patterning. Most species are brown or olive green, or some combination thereof with markings being brown, or black. Yellow or cream-colored accenting is common. Behavior As the common name water snakes implies, species in the genus ''Nerodia'' are largely aquatic. They spend the vast majority of their time in or very ...
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