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4/27/22

Rock Leapers of Africa: The Klipspringer

Ready to have your heart melted? Meet the klipspringer. The name literally translates to “rock leaper” in the Afrikaans language. Living in rock formations called kopje, pronounced ko-pea, these small animals have tiny hooves that can maneuver these kopjes like a dancing ballerina. This sure-footed little antelope will make you say “aww.” Klipspringers are found throughout eastern and southern Africa. They live in places that have rocky terrain with little vegetation.... Read More
at 4/27/22
AIYI

4/27/22

What is Buzz Pollination?

The floral kingdom is diverse with a wide array of flower forms. Likewise, there is no “one size fits all” pollinator. Instead, there are various strategies, and one economically significant but frequently overlooked method is known as buzz pollination or sonication. Buzz pollination is when the rapid vibrations of an insect’s wings release the pollen from the unique anthers (the male reproductive organs of a flower) of these plants. This enables fertilization, forming s... Read More
at 4/27/22
AIYI

4/27/22

Happy World Otter Day to Our Fuzzy Noodles!

It is hard not to love otters. From their whiskered faces to their paddle-like tail, otters are rambunctious, curious creatures with big personalities! Here at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, we have two of the thirteen species of otters: Asian small-clawed otters and the giant river otters. Asian small-clawed otters only get to be about two to three feet long and weigh between four to eight pounds. They have 12 different calls for alerting the group of danger, a location call, ... Read More
at 4/27/22
AIYI

4/5/22

Monarchs and Milkweed

Across the planet, plants and animals have formed close relationships with each other. One beautiful example of these relationships, monarch butterflies and milkweed (Asclepias species), can be found right here in our Northeast Florida landscape. Monarchs depend on milkweed, where they lay their eggs, and when they are caterpillars milkweed is the only food they can eat! Unfortunately, as humans develop land across the range of monarch butterflies, milkweed is disappearing in these agricultu... Read More
at 4/5/22