Reptiles and Amphibians of the Florida Everglades

American Alligator Native species Broadly rounded snout Usually not aggressive, unless guarding a nest Young have yellow stripes on tail

American Crocodile Endangered Approx. 500 – 1200 in Florida. –Threats – Human development and loss of habitat

Speckled Caiman Introduced. Common, and highly adaptable to s. fl. Bone ridge in front of eyes Young have black stripes on tail

Peninsula Cooter and Florida Redbelly turtle Both, 9 – 13 inches Freshwater marshes, ponds and solution holes. Cooter – Shark Valley Hybridization occasionally

Striped mud turtle inches Protected species freshwater marshes, sloughs, ponds and solution holes Common at Royal Palm

Diamondback Terrapin Females in., males in. Common in estuarine areas of mangroves. Rarely out of salt water. Ten thousand islands and cape sable. Seven subspecies, more easily identified by geograhic location FL east coast, Mangrove (southern), and Ornate (Gulf) are three types we may see

Florida Box Turtle inches Common in pine lands and hard hammocks Fire-scarred and three legged specimens are not uncommon

Gopher tortoise 6 – 9.5 inches Sandy regions of coastal plain Locally common on middle and east Cape Sable

Florida Softshell 11 – 25 inches Common in freshwater marshes and ponds. Anhinga trail and Shark valley.

Anoles

Green Anole 5 – 8 inches Color varies Pink throat fan Native Common, but appears to be outnumbered by brown anoles.

Brown Anole 5 – 8.5 inches Exotic, native to Cuba. One of the most successful reptiles in S. Fl.

Knight Anole 13 – 19.5 inches Introduced from Cuba Large lizard Reported in Flamingo

Tokay gecko 8 – 14 inches Established species in the Miami area. Quite vocal at night (to-kay)

Indo-Pacific gecko 4 – 5.5 in Exotic Common around Flamingo All are self-fertilizing females

Florida reef gecko 2 – 2.25 in Native species Only gecko native to Florida Leaf litter, under small rocks Smallest lizard in N.A.

Southeastern Five-Lined Skink 5.5 – 8.5 in Common Wooded habitats, wetlands and developed sites

Ground Skink 3 – 5.5 inches Locally common Hardwood hammocks and pineland under leaf litter, rocks and logs

Eastern Glass Lizard 22 – 42 inches Native Species Snake like, movable eyelids Similar species – island glass lizard

Common Iguana 30 – 79 inches Exotic from Central and South America Largest lizard in US Tall dense trees near water

Coral Snake 20 – 30 in Fairly common in Florida Pine woods, hammocks and edges of ponds and lakes Rotting logs, piles of brush and decaying vegetation Most dangerous venom in North Amer.

Florida Scarlet snake 14 – 20 in Coral snake mimic Pine flatwoods, dry prairies, hardwood hammocks, and sand hills Nocturnal; underground, under logs, leaf litter and rocks Belly is whitish grey

Scarlet King Snake in Uncommon in hardwood hammocks, pinelands and coastal prairies. Coral snake mimic

comparison

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake 33 – 72 in Locally common Hardwood hammocks, pinelands and coastal prairies.

Dusky Pigmy rattlesnake in Common in freshwater marshes. Reputation for being aggressive and quick to strike. Rattle sounds like a buzzing insect.

Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) in Common venomous snake Found near any water Unpredictable aggressiveness

Brown Water Snake in Common in freshwater marshes and ponds Most seen along Anhinga trail

Florida Water Snake 24 – 42 in Freshwater ponds and marshes Abundant in canals at Shark Valley

Florida Green Water Snake 30 – 55 in Common in freshwater ponds and marshes Found in northern everglades Tamiami Trail

Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake 15 – 30 inches Chiefly of salt or brackish water Nocturnal

South Florida Black Swamp Snake 10 – 15 in Freshwater marshes Shiny black with red belly Abundant in water hyacinths (pull some out) Tamiami Trail

Eastern Garter Snake 18 – 26 in Very common from canada to Florida

Peninsula Ribbon Snake 18 – 25 in Freshwater marshes and close vicinity Often in low bushes over water

Striped Crayfish Snake 13 – 20 in Freshwater marshes Most aquatic snake in Florida Aquatic plants along the Tamiami Trail

Eastern Mud Snake 40 – 54 in Freshwater marshes and ponds Nocturnal Feeds chiefly on Amphiumas

Florida Brown Snake 9 – 13 in Bogs and marshes Often among water hyacinths

Southern Ringneck Snake 10 – 14 in Common in pinelands and hardwood hammocks under logs

Yellow Rat snake 42 – 72 in Forage in cypress and other trees

Eastern Racer in All habitats Most abundant terrestrial snake in the Everglades

Eastern Indigo 60 – 84 inches Threatened species Largest snake in NA Found in all habitats of everglades park

Corn Snake 30 – 48 inches Pinelands, hardwood hammocks and developed sites Nocturnal

Rough Green Snake inches Only bright green snake in Florida Pinelands, hardwood hammocks and bordering freshwater

Two-toed Amphiuma 14.5 – 30 in Common, but rarely seen Freshwater marshes Nocturnal Water hyacinths on the Tamiami Trail

Greater Siren 20 – 30 in Common in shallow freshwater marshes and ponds Nocturnal

Everglades Dwarf Siren 4 – 7 inches Known specifically from the Everglades. Locally common Freshwater marshes among dead vegetation.

Peninsula Newt 3 – 4 in Similar to eastern red- spotted newt, but the dorsal area is very dark Locally common Freshwater marshes and solution holes

Greenhouse Frog 5/8 – 1.25 in Exotic species from Cuba. Locally common Under logs and leaf litter.

Southern Toad 1 5/8 - 3 inches Common Hardwood hammocks, pinelands and seasonally inundated freshwater marshes and mangrove areas

Oak Toad.75 – 1.25 inches Common, often active during the day. Light mid-dorsal stripe

Florida Cricket Frog 5/8 – 1 inch Common in all freshwater habitats Voice sounds like marble tapping together

Green Treefrog 1.25 – 2.25 in Common in all freshwater marshes Light colored lateral stripe

Squirrel Treefrog 7/8 – 1 5/8 in Common in all freshwater habitats Highly variable coloration – green is most common

Cuban Treefrog 1.5 – 3.5 in Introduced from Cuba

Florida Chorus Frog.75 – 1.25 in Common in freshwater marshes

Eastern Narrow-mouth Toad 7/8 – 1 ¼ in Common Under logs and litter layer in hardwood hammocks

Pig Frog 3.25 – 5.5 in Common Freshwater marshes Grunt-like call heard night and day Olive to blackish brown ps/Frogs_and_Toads/R_gr ylio/r_grylio.htmlhttp://cars.er.usgs.gov/her ps/Frogs_and_Toads/R_gr ylio/r_grylio.html

Southern Leopard Frog 2 – 3.5 in Common All freshwater habitats

Little Grass Frog 7/16 – 5/8 in Smallest frog in NA Common Freshwater marshes Cling to grass and sedges

References phttp:// p – checklist to Florida Reptiles and Amphibianshttp:// &shapeID=1059&curPageNum=5&recnum=AR0060 – fl. Reef geck. 7&shapeID=1059&curPageNum=5&recnum=AR snakeshttp:// everglades_species_table.html – list of S. Fl. everglades_species_table.html