The Animal Kingdom

There are different groups of animals. One way to classify or group animals is by taking a look at their physical characteristics. Animals can be vertebrates (have a backbone) or invertebrates (have no backbone)
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Terrapin | The Salt Marsh

Video

The upper surface of the terrapin's shell, called the carapace, is formed of 13 plates, or scutes. Each scute is roughly circular and grooved with rings. Since one ring is formed each year, the age of...
Tricolored Heron | The Salt Marsh
Tricolored Heron | The Salt Marsh

Photo

The tricolored heron is bluish on the back and wing, white on its belly and throat, and reddish-brown on the back of its neck and head. This medium-sized heron is the most common heron of the salt...
Great Egret | The Salt Marsh

Video

The great egret is a large white wading bird. Unlike the snowy egret, the great egret has a yellow bill and black legs and feet. This bird is the symbol of the National Audubon Society. Their long...
Oystercatchers | The Salt Marsh
Oystercatchers | The Salt Marsh

Photo

Boldly patterned in black and white, the stocky American oystercatcher is hard to mistake. It has long red legs and a large red bill. As the name suggests, they feed mainly on oysters, although they...
Snowy Egret | The Salt Marsh
Snowy Egret | The Salt Marsh

Photo

Snowy egrets are smaller versions of the great egret. They have white feathers, black legs with yellow feet, and a black bill. Snowies sometimes wade slowly through shallow water, stirring the mud...
Mud Snail | The Salt Marsh

Video

The mud snail is black, with a very strong shell, and is about 1/2 inch in length. It is an effective scavenger and hundreds of snails will collect around a dead fish or shrimp bait until they...
Bay Anchovy | The Salt Marsh
Bay Anchovy | The Salt Marsh

Photo

The bay anchovy is the most numerous fish in the estuaries of South Carolina. They are food to larger fish and to many birds. Anchovies are specialized to feed on plankton. They have a huge mouth and...
Spot & Croaker | The Salt Marsh
Spot & Croaker | The Salt Marsh

Photo

Spot and croaker are closely related fish. They look alike, with light vertical bands, but the spot is named for a dark spot just behind its gill cover. All members of this group of fish make noises...
Shrimp | The Salt Marsh
Shrimp | The Salt Marsh

Photo

Three different species of shrimp are collected commercially from offshore and from the salt marsh. They are the pink shrimp, the brown shrimp, and the white shrimp. They are large, up to 10 inches in...
Blue Crabs | The Salt Marsh
Blue Crabs | The Salt Marsh

Photo

Blue crabs are active predators and effective scavengers. They occur throughout the estuary. They can swim by using their last pair of legs, which have been modified into paddles instead of walking...