Leatherback turtles were conspicuously separated from other species on the basis 

 of color, shape, size, and lack of a keratinized carapace. Green turtles, hawksbills, 

 loggerheads, and ridley turtles were more difficult to positively identify. A percentage 

 of the turtles seen was classed as unidentified turtles, the equivalent of a non- 

 leatherback classification. Loggerheads were often identifiable on the basis of head and 

 neck size, and red carapace coloration. 



OCCURRENCE 



Mammals 



The marine mammal faunas of the Texas and Florida survey subunits appeared 

 quite different in our surveys (Table 3). Bottlenose dolphins were the only marine 

 mammals found in all survey subunits. They were found only during November in STEX, 

 but were present during both August and November in the other subunits. 



During August dolphins of the genus Stenella were common off Florida and 

 Texas. Three species of Stenella were observed off Texas (spotted, striped, and spinner 

 dolphins). All those identified to species off Florida were striped dolphins (a single 

 Stenella in NFLA was called a possible spotted dolphin). During November striped 

 dolphins and unidentified Stenella dolphins were reported in the Florida survey subunits, 

 but no Stenella were reported off Texas. 



Saddleback dolphins were identified during August in NFLA and both Texas survey 

 subunits. They were not seen in SFLA nor in any subunits during November. 



In the Texas survey subunits we had several sightings of whales. During August 

 sperm whales were seen in both STEX and NTEX, and a group of beaked whales was seen 

 in STEX. Short-finned pilot whales were observed in STEX during August and November, 

 and an unidentified small whale was seen there in August. In contrast, we had only one 

 whale sighting for Florida: an unidentified large whale in NFLA during August. 



Our only manatee sighting was in SFLA during November, where three animals 

 were seen approximately 100 m from shore. 



Birds 



Table 4 summarizes bird species occurrence by area and season. Table 5 provides 

 scientific names for all sea birds expected to occur in the study area. We identified 21 

 species of birds and recorded an additional 14 categories of birds not identified to 

 species. Most of the recorded avifauna can be grouped into the following categories: 

 migrating landbirds, summer migrant pelagics, summer residents, wintering marine 

 species, and permanent residents. 



We identified four species of migrating landbirds: the great egret (Casmerodius 

 albus), cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) , Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) , and willet 

 (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) . Several smaller landbirds were seen and not identified 

 (these are included in Table 4 in the unidentified bird categories). 



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