The University of Florida has been given a gift of 2.2 million butterfly and moth specimens. ...more

October 17, 2009

Fossils from northeastern Colombia reveal the biggest snake ever discovered: a behemoth that stretched 42 to 45 feet long, reaching more than 2,500 pounds. Titanoboa cerrejonensis, which acted like an anaconda, breaks the snake length record by about 11 feet, said paleontologist Jason Head of the University of Toronto Missisauga. ...more

February 5, 2009

With its imposing size, prehistoric appearance and unique barbed snout, the sawfish once was a common sight in Florida waters, often hauled to docks as a trophy catch or dispatched by fishermen when nets ensnared the toothy bill. ...more

December 31, 2008

Historians today dedicated the "first 16 feet" of what they hope will eventually become a permanent display for their Ruskin History Center. The work of renowned paleontologist Frank Garcia will flank the display. The "first 16 feet" consists of two cases filled with ancient artifacts discovered locally by Garcia, which the Ruskin Historical Society hopes will become a fixture at the history center, once it finds a permanent home. ...more

October 21, 2008

Vikas Chinnan stood over a tank at the world's largest aquarium, peering down at the world's largest fish species. He was wondering what it would be like to jump in and frolic beside the whale sharks. ...more

June 27, 2008

AVON PARK — Think of a big, pink plastic caterpillar, antennas and all, sitting on Museum Avenue. It would be about 7-foot wide and 20 feet long, full of exotic flowers and butterflies. You enter through the mouth, exit from... you get the idea... but it'll be "cute," city Project Manager Maria Sutherland said. The names of sponsors will be etched on giant artificial leaves outside the caterpillar, which will be surrounded by a garden. ...more

June 9, 2008

A butterfly species discovered in Florida has a new name after a bidder paid $40,800 for the naming rights in an online auction. ...more

November 23, 2007

When this portion of northeast St. Petersburg was to be developed into a subdivision 50 years ago, an archaeologist excavated the area first, looking for artifacts from much earlier residents. ...more

September 23, 2007