Phylum: Chordata, Class: Actinopterygii, Order: Scorpaeniformes, Family: Scorpaenidae, Genus: Pterois, Species: volitans
This lionfish was just staring back at the people staring at it. It had all of its fins and spines raised as to show it wasn’t going to back down. The lionfish is native to the Indo-Pacific region but has become highly invasive in the western Atlantic down to the Caribbean. This photo was taken at the Riverbanks Zoo in SC.
Phylum: Chordata, Family: Macropodidae, Genus: Macropus
This was a kangaroo from the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. We were allowed to walk through the inclosed kangaroo exhibit (having to stay on the specific path) and the kangaroos didn’t mind our presence. This kangaroo was hanging out under a tree to avoid the heat of the afternoon in September.
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Family: Struthionidae, Genus: Struthio, Species: camelus
This ostrich was in the same exhibit as the zebras at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. They didn’t have much interaction between each other while I was watching. This picture was taken in September on a warm day.
Phylum: Chordata, Family: Equidae, Genus: Equus
This zebra was walking around its exhibit at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. It stayed mostly in the shade to stay cool on the warm day in September.
Phylum: Chordata, Family: Leporidae
This rabbit was at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. It was next to another rabbit that was hiding under the log. These animals didn’t pay any attention to the people walking by and looking at them.
Phylum: Chordata, Order: Primates, Family: Hominidae
This gorilla was moving about in his space at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. He was walking around on all fours and would occasionally sit and watch the people that were watching him.
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Proboscidae, Family: Elephantidae
This elephant at the Riverbanks Zoo in SC was eating when we walked up to the exhibit. It was using its trunk to grasp the food and bring it up to its mouth. It was a warm day out in early fall and this elephant was spending its time in the shade.
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Bivalvia, Family: Unionidae
This freshwater clam was found in Little Sugar Creek in Charlotte, NC. I found this in the sand from the bottom of the creek one afternoon in September while it was still warm out and the water wasn’t too cold.
Phylum: Mollusca, Class: Gastropod, Family: Trochidae
This shell was found in the intertidal zones at Emerald Isle in North Carolina over the summer. The shell belonged to a marine snail.
Phylum: Chordata, Class: Mammalia, Order: Artiodactyla, Family: Giraffidae, Genus: Giraffa, Species: camelopardalis
This giraffe was being fed by the people visiting the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina. You could by food at this exhibit to feed the giraffes and they would take it right out of your hand.
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