Other Marine Life in the Panhandle
Horseshoe Crab
Horsehoe Crabs are an ancient species which actually are more similar to spiders than they are crabs. They have 5 pairs of legs which can be used for swimming, walking, and consuming food. Their tails are not venomous like a barbed sting ray and assist in steering. Unfortuantely for these crabs, if this tail is broken they can often be beached and left to bake in the sun. To learn more about these ancient crustaceans visit our article titled, "Horseshoe Crabs Are Living Fossils."
Fiddler Crab
Fiddler Crabs are often seen on the beaches of Florida. The male crab is easy to spot for it's large claw that resembles a fiddle. This claw is used to attract mates as well as for defense. These crabs dig holes in the sand and use to retreat when alarmed or if the tide comes in. They typically feed on algae. They are also a favorite snack of several beach dwelling birds or shallow water fish.
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles have been known to nest off Florida's Gulf Coast. This is especially true for Franklin County. Sea Turtle mothers prefer dark locations on the beach for hatching eggs. As the hatchlings emerge from their sandy homes, they are attracted to the light of the moon reflecting off of the water of the ocean. It is important that artificial lights near the beach do not distract the hatchlings and prevent them from traveling to the water. To learn more about this importance, visit Erik Lovestrand's article about sea turtles called, "Sea Turtles See Things Differently."
Contact
Wakulla County Extension Address
84 Cedar Avenue
Crawfordville, FL 32327
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am – 5pm
Samantha Kennedy
UF/IFAS Wakulla County Extension Director & FCS Agent
Phone (850) 926-3931
skennedy@ufl.edu