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Red-Sided Dace
Photograph by George Grall
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 40 percent of American freshwater fish and amphibian species, including this red-sided dace, are classified as being at risk.
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Great Egret
Photograph by Medford Taylor
Great egrets inhabit wetlands around the world. Wetlands and marshes are important habitats for birds, providing ample places to breed, nest, and feed.
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Eastern Diamondback
Photograph by Chris Johns
An eastern diamondback rattlesnake perches on mangrove roots in Florida's Everglades. Only about half of this important watershed is left today due to water diversion and draining.
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Coahuilan Box Turtle
Photograph by George Grall
Because of its isolation, the waters of the Cuatro Cienegas wetland in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert are home to many unique plant and animal species, like these Coahuilan box turtles.
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Green River Grasses
Photograph by Richard Olsenius
Grass floats in a river in the United States. River habitats, called riparian systems, often contain lush vegetation and a wealth of animal species.
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Long-Stemmed Water Lilies
Photograph by George Grall
Long-stemmed water lilies reach for the hot Mexican sun in Cuatro Cienegas wetlands. Fed by underground aquifers, this Chihuahuan Desert oasis lives in complete isolation from other water systems.
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Marine Biologist With Mussels
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Standing in Tennessee's Clinch River, a marine biologist holds three species of freshwater mussel, the most endangered animal group in North America.
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