23. Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus)

I was so excited about this! This is only the fourth time I've seen a gar on campus (or at all), despite having looked for them every single time I've passed this part of the creek, ever since I saw my first one four years ago. #LocalVertDiversity #fish

22. Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris)

An introduced species here. They're not exactly rare, but I see these less commonly than many of our native frogs, which is good. This one did NOT appreciate being investigated by my dog, so I only got the one pic. #LocalVertDiversity #herps

21. Sunfish (Lepomis sp.)

These are probably Bluegill (L. macrochirus), but there are a few other congeners around campus too. My normal fish-observing path is fenced off now so I couldn't get close enough for a reasonably decent picture. #LocalVertDiversity

20. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 🪶 #LocalVertDiversity

We also have Fish Crows around here (near-identical to American Crows), but these were being very noisy as they inspected people's recycling, so ID was easy.

(way-zoomed-in pic bc my dog still likes to chase them if we get too close)

18. Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 🪶

One of the less common heron species to find along this stretch of creek. I wonder if I can get all the local Ardeinae from this one location during this semester's #LocalVertDiversity project? I'm only missing 3...

16. Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) 🐟

Very very tentative ID on these; students have to find at least one species of fish for the #LocalVertDiversity project, and this is often the quality of picture that we get (which is why they only have to have one).

15. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 🪶 #LocalVertDiversity

The neighborhood turkeys have usually retreated into the woods by the time my dog and I are out and around, but these ladies were having brunch rather than breakfast that morning, I guess.

14. Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) #LocalVertDiversity 🐢 🪶

I was so busy watching the heron that I didn't even notice the turtle surfacing nearby until I watched the video back. Luckily I was able to grab a screenshot of it for iNat.

13. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) #herps #LocalVertDiversity

They're evvvvverywhere. When I first moved here I practically had to re-learn how to walk because I was so afraid that I might step on one that I was tripping over myself to avoid them.

12. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) #mammals

I remembered to take a picture of a squirrel at the start of the #LocalVertDiversity project this year, instead of waiting until November and going "oh yeah, squirrels are vertebrates too!" like I usually do.

19. Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis)

I'm going out of order for my #LocalVertDiversity postings, but I couldn't wait any longer to show you all the teeniest green anole I found on a trash can at the park. #herps

11. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) #LocalVertDiversity #mammals

I was zoomed way in with my ancient phone camera, so it's a terrible picture, but I like the way this deer looks like she's wearing those beautyberries as a flower crown.

10. Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) #herps

The dog and I went to go check the frog tubes for tree frogs. They were empty, but I found this little buddy hopping around underneath! They're burrowers and mostly nocturnal, so it's rare to see one in daylight. #LocalVertDiversity

9. Southern Toad (Anaxyrus terrestris) #herps

This is why my "only while walking my dog" policy isn't really a restriction; I doubt I'd have seen this guy in the first place if I weren't bent over picking up after my dog. #LocalVertDiversity