The Creature Catalog

Welcome to the Creature Catalog! This is our family’s compendium of 73 threatened species we have encountered as a family in the wild. If you’re curious about how we chose these plants and animals or, in some cases, how they chose us, we encourage you to read our criteria for selection. This essay explains why the number 73. Clicking on each species below will give you the story of our encounter, background information on why they’re threatened, and ways you can help. Happy to receive your feedback and suggestions.

1. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Encountered as a family on 12/18/24 in our backyard Miami, Florida, USA. Print is available here.

2. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) Encountered as a family on 12/21/24 in the lagoon of Virginia Key in Miami, Florida, USA. Print is here.

3. American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Encountered as a family on 3/15/25 in the backwaters of the Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Artwork here.

4. Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) Encountered on 5/4/25 in an undisclosed location near the port of Miami, Florida, USA.

5. Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) Encountered on 5/4/25 in an undisclosed location near the port of Miami, Florida, USA.

6. Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Encountered on 7/1/25 in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida, USA.

7. Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) Possibly encountered on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, USA.

8. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Possibly encountered on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, USA.

9. Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) Encountered on 8/11/25 in Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska, USA.

10. Hot Water Physa (Physella wrighti) Encountered on 7/26/25 and then photographed on 9/17/25 in Liard Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada.

11. Granular Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga granulifero) Encountered on 11/27/25 near a stream outside of Palmar Norte, Costa Rica.

12. Golfo Dulce Poison Frog (Phyllobates vittatus) Encountered on 11/27/25 near a stream outside of Palmar Norte, Costa Rica.

13. Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) Encountered on 12/7/25 in Playa Ventanas near Ojochal, Costa Rica.

14. Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) Encountered on 1/4/26 in Pavones, Costa Rica.

15. TBD

16. TBD

17. TBD

18. TBD

19. TBD

20. TBD

21. TBD

22. TBD

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24. TBD

25. TBD

26. TBD

27. TBD

28. TBD

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40. TBD

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64. TBD

65. TBD

66. TBD

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69. TBD

70. TBD

71. TBD

72. TBD

73. TBD