Paddle Boarding Lessons, Tours and Rentals - Jupiter & Singer Island, Fl - South Florida Paddle
  • Home
  • Eco Tour Info
  • Tours
    • Beginners Jupiter Paddle Boarding Eco Adventure to Fullerton Island
    • Jupiter Advanced Paddle Boarding Eco Tour and lesson
    • Jupiter Sunrise Paddle Boarding Experience
    • Jupiter Sunset Paddle Boarding Adventure Tour
    • Jupiter Paddle Board Rentals Sawfish Bay Park
    • Peanut Island Paddle Boarding Excursion Tour and Lesson
    • FULL MOON PADDLE Boarding Singer Island
    • Night Paddle Boarding Glow Tour Singer Island Florida
    • SUNSET PADDLE Boarding Singer Island, Florida MacArthur State Park
    • Singer Island Paddle Boarding Eco Tour to Munyon Island - Near MacArthur State Park
    • SUNRISE PADDLE Boarding Singer Island
    • MacArthur State Park Private Paddle Board Tour - Singer Island, Fl Munyon Island
    • Singer Island PRIVATE Paddle Boarding LESSON AND ECO TOUR
    • MacArthur State Park Paddle Board Rentals Singer Island
  • Book Now
  • FAQ/Directions
  • Photos
  • Store
  • About/Contact

EXPERIENCE. ENCOUNTER. ENJOY.

GET YOUR PADDLE ON, SOUTH FLORIDA

BOOK NOW

FLORIDA HORSE CONCH

3/24/2014

5 Comments

 

THE FLORIDA HORSE CONCH

The U.S. state of Florida declared it the state seashell in 1969. The shell is popular with shell collectors partly because of its great size.

Although known as a horse conch, this is not a true conch, as it is not in the family Strombidae.

This species is the largest gastropod in the American waters, and one of the largest univalves in the world. 
The animal can retract the soft parts entirely into the shell and close it with the operculum. The soft parts are bright orange in color.

This species shell length can reach 24 inches 

The outline of the shell is somewhat fusiform, with a long siphonal canal, and having up to 10 whorls. Its sculpture present several spiral cords and axial ribs, some of which can form knobs on the whorls shoulders.

The shell color is bright orange in very young individuals. The shell often becomes greyish white to salmon-orange when adult, with a light tan or dark brown periostracum. 



This species dwells on sand, weed and mud flats from the low intertidal to shallow subtidal zones, in 20 foot (6 m) deep water.

The horse conch is a carnivorous predatory species, and feeds on other large marine gastropods, including the tulip shell , the lightning whelk , and the queen conch, as well as some Murex species. It may also present cannibalistic behavior, feeding on smaller individuals. It has been observed (in an aquarium setting) to eat small hermit crabs of the species.



5 Comments

POPULAR BIRDS OF THE ESTUARY

5/10/2013

1 Comment

 

Popular birds of the estuary

Picture
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America as well as the Caribbean and the Galapagos Islands.
Voice
The call is a harsh croak. The heron is most vocal during the breeding season, but will call occasionally at any time of the year in territorial disputes or if disturbed.
Habitat
The Great Blue Heron can adapt to almost any wetland habitat in its range. They may be found in numbers in fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove, swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines. They are quite adaptable and may be seen in heavily developed areas as long as they hold bodies of water bearing fish. Great Blue Herons rarely venture far from bodies of water but are occasionally seen flying over upland areas. They usually nest in trees or bushes near water's edge, often on island (which minimizes the potential for predation) or partially isolated spots.
Diet
The primary food for Great Blue Heron is small fish, though it is also known to opportunistically feed on a wide range of shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, rodent and other small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and small birds. Herons locate their food by sight and usually swallow it whole. Typically, the Great Blue Heron feeds in shallow waters, usually less than 20 in deep, or at the water's edge during both the night and the day, but especially around dawn and dusk. The most commonly employed hunting technique of the species is wading slowly with its long legs through shallow water and quickly spearing fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. 
Breeding
This species usually breeds in colonies, in trees close to lakes or other wetlands. Although nests are often reused for many years and herons are socially monogamous within a single breeding season, individuals usually choose new mates each year. Males arrive at colonies first and settle on nests, where they court females; most males choose a different nest each year. Eggs are usually laid at 2 day intervals, incubated for around 27 days and hatch asynchronously over a period of several days. The first chick to hatch usually becomes more experienced in food handling and aggressive interactions with siblings, and so often grows more quickly than the other chicks.

1 Comment

    Author

    Hello! 
    I was born and raised in West Palm Beach, so I grew up discovering all the beauty this area has to offer.  For the past 6 years I have been paddle boarding areas from Stuart south to Delray.  I first discovered paddle boarding in a magazine, years ago, and had to try it.  I signed up for a lesson/tour and fell in love with the sport. The next day, I bought my first board. Every morning, weather permitting, I try to paddle.  The reasons why I love paddling are because it’s very peaceful, a good workout, and because of the marine life I encounter.  Depending on the time of year, I can see dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and rays all during the same paddle. You can see so much more from a paddle board because you are standing up looking down.  It really is an awesome experience!!

    Archives

    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    May 2013
    December 2012
    June 2011

    Categories

    All
    Birds
    Eco Tour
    Great Blue Heron
    Macarthur State Park
    Manatees
    Marinelife
    Munyon Island
    Paddleboard
    Paddleboarding
    Sup
    Suplife

    RSS Feed

©2013 South Florida Paddle LLC.  Open 7 days a week. Hours vary.  PHONE NUMBER: 561-231-1659       EMAIL: info@southfloridapaddle.com