Observation: This is a type of protostome. I made this observation at a public park near where I live. It was a sunny day and around the afternoon at about 2:56 PM EST when I made the observation. The lady beetle landed on my friend’s phone and I took close up pictures. I noticed it was struggling to move since the phone screen was slippery.

Visual Description: This beetle was about ¼ inch long and had 6 legs and 2 antennas. The head was a very light brown with black dots that formed sort of an “M” shape. The body of the beetle was a light reddish-orange color and it had fainted spots on it. The body looked like it had a smooth texture.

Habitat: This Asian lady beetle was introduced in Asia and has quickly spread across various states in the United States. It can be many different colors and can have different patterns as well. The colors can be from red to orange. They are mostly found places where there is sufficient sun.

Refrerence: https://www.northeastipm.org/schools/pests/multicolored-asian-lady-beetle/

Observation: This is a type of deuterostome. I made this observation at a public park near where I live. It was a sunny day and around the afternoon at about 2:47 PM EST when I made the observation. The squirrel was moving fast while I observed it and it looked like it was looking for food.

Visual Description: This squirrel was actually light brownish in color with a long bushy tail. It was white underneath the body. It was covered in fur that looked like a smooth texture. It was leaping around the tree and grass.

Habitat: These squirrels can mostly be found in wooded areas and in trees. They are found in the eastern parts of North America. They play a pivotal role in seed dispersal as they bury seeds and nuts that they obtain. They can be observed even in colder temperatures. These squirrels do not have a high survival rate and mostly only live up to 1-2 years.

Reference: https://www.dept.psu.edu/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/graysquirrel.htm

Observation: This is a type of seedless vascular plant. I made this observation at a public park near where I live. It was a sunny day and around the afternoon at about 2:59 PM EST when I made the observation.

Visual Observation: This fern was green and multiple pinnae, about 1-2 inches, between the rachis. Each of the pinnae were pretty similar in size. The whole fern was a sword shape and was about a foot long. There were multiple of these around the park.

Habitat: The Fishbone fern native to Asia and parts of northern Australia. It is found in many areas across the state of Florida and other states across the United States. It tends to grow well in acidic soil. They are able to survive in pretty dry environments.

Reference: https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/fishbone-fern

Leaves were broad and widest at the base, had branched veins and a whorled arrangement, and appeared dark-green and smooth at the top and lighter with a dry texture at the bottom. The roots nearby seemed to belong to the organism due to their proximity, were thick and about a foot in height, and had bumps and orange spots. Trunk and branches were of similar thickness, with the three large, main branches close to the ground.

Defining characteristics: the branched venation of the leaves, roots surrounding the organism, and woody stem are indicative of a dicot.

Habitat: Found about ten feet away from the shore of a lake. It is native to the Southeastern United States, from the borders of South Carolina to Western Florida.
Known geographic distribution here: https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/nyssa/ogeche.htm

Reference(s):
U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/nyssa/ogeche.htm

N.C. Cooperative Extension: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nyssa-ogeche/

Southeastern Flora: http://www.southeasternflora.com/view_flora.php?plantid=2111

The body of the lizard was much smaller than the tail, which was very thin and long. The size of the organism was probably 6-7 inches. The color was brownish which helped determine what the organism was. It also had small scales on its backside. This organism was found near my pool area.

Habitat: Brown Anoles are native to Cuba and the Bahamas. They are also found in many places in Florida and live in warm weather.

Website: https://srelherp.uga.edu/lizards/anosag.htm