Wetlands have the characteristics of both land and aquatic settings so the wetland animals are very diverse. Many of the animals of the wetlands are well suited to a wet environment and have very distinct ways of feeding and of reproducing. The wetland animas sometimes affect how the wetlands are distributed. Below are some of the wetland animals that you are likely to find in wetland areas:
- Mosquito: They have four stages of development and spend the larval and pupal stage in the water. They mate after they leave the aquatic stages and it is the female that looks for blood to find the protein that is needed for egg development. The male mosquito feed on plant nectar but only lives a short time after mating.
- The Big Brown Bat: As the only flying mammals, this wetlands animal is nocturnal and usually flies after dusk. This is not a large animal and has a head and body that is only about two and a half inches long but the wingspan is about 13 inches across. This is a gentle animal that eats insects and help maintain the balance of nature. It is also a very smart animal.
- Barred Owl: This may seem like a vulnerable animal but it is very skilled as a predator. It has many variations in the way it vocalizes and it is not just the standard owl sounds that you will hear from this animal. The Barred Owl prefers damp areas to live in like wooded swamps and moist forests.