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Zoo Miami celebrates first-ever hatching of threatened Texas horned lizards

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Zoo Miami celebrates first-ever hatching of threatened Texas horned lizards


MIAMI – For the first time, Zoo Miami has successfully hatched threatened Texas horned lizards as part of a conservation effort to boost their wild populations, zoo spokesman Ron Magill confirmed Tuesday in a news release.

Zoo Miami, in collaboration with the Center for Conservation & Research at San Antonio Zoo, has established “a satellite colony of Texas horned lizards to produce hatchlings under human care as part of the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project,” Magill wrote in the news release.

The hatchlings, once they are stable, will be transported to Texas and released in carefully selected sites by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, according to Magill.

Known colloquially as “horned frogs” or “horny toads,” the Texas horned lizard is an iconic species and the official state lizard of Texas, where it is listed as threatened and protected by law, the news release stated.

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The lizard, which is distinguished by the horns on its head and rows of spiny scales along its sides, typically measures between 3 and 5 inches in length.

Magill said it normally inhabits dry grasslands, savannas, and deserts, with skin adapted to absorb water from dew and sand.

Zoo Miami said the species faces several threats, including habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and pesticide use.

According to Magill, harvester ants, the lizard’s primary food source, have declined due to competition with invasive fire ants and the use of pesticides. As a result, the Texas horned lizard population has decreased by more than 30% over the last 40 years.

The horned lizard’s first eggs were laid at the end of June, and the first hatching occurred on Aug. 9 at Zoo Miami, Magill confirmed Tuesday.

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He said seven more hatchlings have since emerged, with more eggs still incubating.

The tiny hatchlings, which are small enough to fit on a quarter, “are being carefully monitored and fed fruit flies and small insect larvae until they are stable for transport,” Zoo Miami wrote in Tuesday’s news release.

Magill said zoo staff will then accompany the hatchlings to Texas to work with the San Antonio Zoo and other collaborators to release them back into the wild.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.



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Miami, FL

Multiple Miami Heat Players Given Favorable Odds To Land In Hall Of Fame

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Multiple Miami Heat Players Given Favorable Odds To Land In Hall Of Fame


The Miami Heat are filled with talent of all ages, but two of the most established players are nearing the end of their careers.

With retirement on the horizon for Jimmy Butler and even closer for Kevin Love, Hall of Fame conversations are also emerging. Basketball Reference lists Butler with a 72.98 percent chance to make it while Love comes in slightly higher at 73.47 percent.

Love signed a two-year, $8 million contract to return to the Heat this offseason, a deal that will likely follow with retirement. He is expected to still make solid contributions, averaging 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds on 44 percent shooting last year.

The Heat selected Indiana big man Kel’el Ware in the NBA Draft, paving the way for Love to mentor him. Ware will also learn from three-time All-Star center Bam Adebayo, who is entering his prime.

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Butler, who is entering a contract year, seemingly has more time left in his career. He’s expected to hunt a maximum contract next summer, either from the Heat or elsewhere. The 34-year-old is dealing with health issues, meaning retirement could come into consideration sooner than anticipated.

MORE HEAT NEWS

Goran Dragic’s Farewell Game Highlighted By Nikola Jokic’s Dunk, Chris Bosh’s Return

NBA Scout Explains Why Duncan Robinson Is The Miami Heat’s ‘Biggest Mystery’

Anthony Pasciolla works as a contributing writer to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or follow him on X @AnthonyPasci.

Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook HERE.

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Gisele Bündchen, Joaquim Valente Go Water-Biking Past Tom Brady's Miami Home

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Gisele Bündchen, Joaquim Valente Go Water-Biking Past Tom Brady's Miami Home


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Poupart’s Final 53-Man Roster Projection

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Poupart’s Final 53-Man Roster Projection


The Miami Dolphins dress rehearsals — if we can even call preseason games that — are now done after the 24-14 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night, and now it’s time to get down to business.

Specifically, it’s time to get down to the business of slashing the 90-man roster down to the 53-player limit, which must be done by no later than 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Some of the decisions already have been made, including releasing quarterback Mike White and tight end Jody Fortson on Sunday, along with placing players on injured reserve.

As is usually the case, there are some positions that look pretty clear cut and others not so much, with the secondary jumping out as being part of the latter.

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Here then is Miami Dolphins On SI Publisher Alain Poupart’s fifth and final 53-man roster projection of 2024:

On the 53: Tua Tagovailoa, Skylar Thompson

Off: None

Changes from roster projection 4.0: Mike White out

Analysis: We discuss in detail the decision to let go of White, who clearly was outplayed by Thompson all summer and now is a free agent eligible to sign with any other team. The Dolphins obviously will bring in another quarterback — at the very least on the practice squad, though it’s important to note the proposed bylaw change that would have allowed teams to elevate a player on the practice squad an unlimited number of times to serve as emergency third quarterback was dropped after the NFLPA refused to approve the change. So we’re back to the 2023 rule stating the emergency third quarterback must be on the 53-man roster. This was part of the reason we thought the Dolphins would stick with both Thompson and White.

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On the 53: Raheem Mostert, Devon Achane, Jaylen Wright (R), fullback Alec Ingold, Chris Brooks

Off: Jeff Wilson Jr., Zavon Horvath, Anthony McFarland Jr.

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

Analysis: This is pretty simple from this end. Wilson will be on the 53-man roster if the Dolphins can’t work out a trade for him because Mike McDaniel is a big fan of his game, but he’s also clearly fourth on the pecking order and Miami likely can get at least a draft pick in return.

On the 53: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Malik Washington (R), Erik Ezukanma, Odell Beckham Jr.

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Off: Je’Quan Burton (R), Anthony Schwartz (IR), Braylon Sanders, Mike Harley Jr., Kyric McGowan, River Cracraft (IR), Jadon Janke

Changes from roster projection 4.0: Beckham out

Analysis: The big mystery here remains whether Beckham will wind up starting the season on PUP, which would keep him out for at least the first four games. And that’s just one of the injury issues here because River Cracraft likely will begin the season on IR and the same might go for Ezukanma, who was spotted in a walking boot on the sideline before the preseason finale. This is a position where a veteran newcomer could wind up on the 53.

On the 53: Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, Jonnu Smith

Off: Hayden Rucci (R), Tanner Conner

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Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

Analysis: The big question here is whether the Dolphins would keep a fourth tight end on the initial 53. If that happens, we’d give Conner the edge over Rucci, though ultimately we easily could see both ending up on the practice squad.

On the 53: T Terron Armstead, T Austin Jackson, C/G Liam Eichenberg, G Robert Jones, T Patrick Paul (R), C/G Aaron Brewer, T Kendall Lamm, G/T Jack Driscoll, G Lester Cotton

Off: Andrew Meyer (R), Matthew Jones (R), Ryan Hayes, Bayron Matos (R), G Isaiah Wynn (PUP)

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

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Analysis: Projecting the offensive linemen has become easier because it’s looking more and more like Wynn indeed will be starting the season on PUP.

On the 53: Jaelan Phillips, Emmanuel Ogbah, Chop Robinson (R), Mohamed Kamara (R), Quinton Bell

Off: Cameron Goode (PUP), Bradley Chubb (PUP), Wyatt Ray, David Anenih

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

Analysis: Nothing has changed here, except that Quinton Bell no longer appears to be the lock he was early in training camp because he was barely noticeable in any of the joint practices or preseason games. Before that, the injury that landed Cam Brown on IR made things pretty clear cut, though the tricky part will come when Chubb is ready to come off PUP, whether it happens at the moves to 53 or after four weeks.

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On the 53: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Da’Shawn Hand, Calais Campbell, Brandon Pili

Off: Isaiah Mack, Mario Kendricks (R), Leonard Payne (R), Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore, Robert Cooper

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

Analysis: This is based on the assumption that Pili’s injury from Friday night isn’t serious, and we should mention this is a position where the Dolphins very well might look outside to bring in some reinforcements.

On the 53: Jordyn Brooks, David Long Jr., Duke Riley, Channing Tindall

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Off: Curtis Bolton, Anthony Walker Jr., Dequan Jackson

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

Walker is more than good enough to belong on the 53, but we’re thinking his prolonged absence likely will keep him off the roster or maybe he’ll just wind up starting the season on IR. Bolton actually has had himself a very good training camp, but we’re thinking the Dolphins will be sticking with Tindall in the hope he takes a big leap on defense or at the very least can be a core member of the special teams.

On the 53: Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, Ethan Bonner, Kendall Fuller, Siran Neal, Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer, Marcus Maye, Elijah Campbell, Cam Smith, Storm Duck (R)

Off: Isaiah Johnson (R), Jason Maitre (R), Nik Needham, Jordan Colbert (R), Mark Perry (R), Patrick McMorris (IR)

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Changes from roster projection 4.0: Smith in

This remains the position that presents the toughest decisions from this end because of the three good-looking rookie cornerbacks and additionally rookie safety Mark Perry. We’ve got Cam Smith back on the initial 53, even though IR remains a possibility because of his hamstring injury, but either way he’ll be with the team. And it could be any one of Duck, Johnson and Maitre who lands that last spot at cornerback. The Dolphins also have tough decisions when it comes to Needham, who’s a veteran with position flexibility, and Perry.

On the 53: K Jason Sanders, P Jake Bailey, LS Blake Ferguson

Off: None

Changes from roster projection 4.0: None

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Analysis: As we wrote all summer, while there’s an argument to be made that maybe the Dolphins should have brought in competition here, you gotta love it when the Dolphins make it easy for all of us doing roster projections.



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