Hi,

I'm searching more information on specific names of animals and plants on my website pages of my USA-travels. Anyone here who will give me help or advise with this ?

Deer
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...erenherten.htm

Other animals
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...endiversen.htm

Flora
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...2006/flora.htm

Summary
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...unaenflora.htm


Thanks in advance !

Jeepeejee
www.fotoreisverhaal.net

Jeep,

For identification purposes, I like to use small books that I can take along with me and refer to the pictures and descriptions. I'm sure not going to hike with a computer! Are you?

I'm not really sure what your question is.

OK, now I see you are visiting from Europe! I would recommend stopping into the Visitor's Center at each Natl Park and taking a look at their book section. They always have very good choices for "field guides" for the local flora and fauna, as well as geology. Important if you are visiting southern Utah!

"Name that animal". This is kind of fun. I believe the "deer" labeled as mule deer in Rocky Mountain NP are actually elk. The next ones, in Custer, WY, are pronghorn antelope---a species that exists only in North America. The ones in the photos had shed their horns--photos must have been taken in fall? You can read more about antelope (and see photos) here:

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/may/papr/pronghorn.html

As for the plants, most are already labeled. I can help with these, numbered from the top down:

# 3, the "waterlily" is Nuphar lutea, or pond lily/spatterdock.

# 5 is a Campanula, but I'm not sure which speciies. Just label it Campanula sp. Common name in English is harebell or bluebell. This one has many cousins in the Alps and in the UK.

# 6 is Fireweed, Epilobium angustifolium. It is called fireweed because it is one of the first plants to return after a burn, but it grows in many other areas, particularly roadsides. Fireweed honey is highly prized.

Anyone else want to help?

Here is why I think they are elk, not mule deer.

Elk photos:

http://www.pennsylvaniaelkherd.com/elk00076.htm

See the white on his face and under his chin? The elk have dark faces and necks.

Mule deer:

http://www.sd4history.com/Unit2/muledeer.htm

One of the things that may be confusing is that in many places in europe they call moose elk (we saw them labeled as "elg" at Skansen in Stockholm.

In the US an elk is an animal similar to a white-tailed deer - but MUCH bigger. What is called an elk in europe we call a moose in the US. This is also in the ruminant family - but has a long sort of rubbery nose, solid shaped versus pronged antlers and very long legs - versus deer.

A full-grown moose is bigger than a horse and also than what we call an elk (perhaps this is the "stag" in Scotland?) which is smallish horse size versus a white tail deer - which is VERY small - a couple of hundred pounds.

Dumbest question asked by a tourist at our town's visitors' center: "At what altitude do the deer become elk?"

And folks like that drive...and vote.

Hi, i added the animals of Yellowstone Park ! Help is still welcome with recognising the different deer and plants.
Deer:
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...erenherten.htm
Plants:
http://users.skynet.be/reis-verhaal-...2006/flora.htm