receiving and alert with [object Object] when it should be alert the JSON data.

receiving and alert with [object Object] when it should be alert the JSON data.

jquery code:
  1. $.ajax({
  2. url: "validate_livestock_form/index/",
  3. type: 'POST',
  4. dataType: "json",
  5. data: form_data,
  6. success: function(data) {
  7. alert(data);
  8. }
  9. });


php page is echoing out:  {"species":"Please select a species!"}
I double checked the response from the php and firebug shows the same.

On success alert is not alerting the JSON data instead,
I'm receiving [object Object].
Why is that and how do what should I do to fix this?

-Thanks,
Rich