Environment

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

Passion butterfly

If red is the color of passion, then it definitely works for these bright winged-creatures. Perhaps not so for their former incarnations - caterpillars with a black, spiny appearance. The butterflies are 60-to-75 millimeter and particularly picky with their food - they only seek out the nectar of passion flowers. At night you will find them in large groups on the plant's lower leaves.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

American white ibis

This animal can be mostly seen striding through the Everglades - a white body topping bright, red legs. His bare facial skin is also red, as is his beak, although with a dark tip. White ibises seek the company of other waterbird species to breed together in large colonies on bushes and trees.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

Florida panther

If you see one, you might have been either very patient, or very lucky. Back in the 1970s, the Florida Panther was considered extinct. But coincidentally, a small group of survivors was found. Today, no more than 100 of the species are thought to be living in the wild. By the way, the name "panther" is actually wrong, the big cat is a puma.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

American alligator

They can grow up to a frightening length of six meters, but only in exceptional cases. Usually, American alligators are shorter. They all have a broad, flat and bluntly rounded muzzle and are dark, almost black in color. When hungry, they even feed on smaller fellow species, humans are usually left alone.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

Purple gallinule

An adult purple gallinule is a shiny, iridescent beauty with a purple-blue plumage that will shine green and turquoise when the light is right. The bird's legs, also green in color, end in long toes which grant them the power to walk on water. Well, the leaves of water lilies, to be precise.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

Darter

The beak of the darter is about twice as long as it's head. When the dark-feathered fish-eater swims, often only the long neck and head stick out of the water. Although they are not dumb, they rarely express themselves. At most, they can be heard clicking with their beaks.

The Everglades - Marshland biodiversity

American flamingo

The American flamingo is a loyal animal. The bird breeds in colonies, widely visible through their uniform and rich pink-colored plumage. Both fathers and mothers take care of the hatchling. Even though the birds are at home in the Caribbean, sometimes they even breed in Germany.

Author: Klaus Esterluss