|  |
Reptiles of Southern Florida 1
Denise S. Rocus and Frank J. Mazzotti2Reptiles are an important and beneficial segment of the wildlife population found in urban areas. Though people are taught through movies, legends, and folklore to fear these animals, they pose little real threat to humans. Much of this fear comes from a lack of understanding and knowledge of reptiles.
Basics
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning that they do not maintain their own body heat, but must absorb heat from their surroundings. Actually, "cold-blooded" is a misnomer: since reptilian body temperature is dependent on environmental heat sources, in certain climates their body temperatures could exceed those of mammals and birds. Table 1.Reptiles have a relatively waterproof skin composed of scales, which retains most of their body moisture. Because of these characteristics, reptiles are able to survive in harsh conditions. Many reptiles can be found in urban areas, and the following provides a list of reptiles that inhabit the part of Florida from Lake Okeechobee southward.
Crocodiles and alligators are native to southern Florida--they live in both freshwater and marine aquatic environments. Crocodiles tend to be shy and reclusive, easily disturbed by human activity, which may account for their endangered species status. Alligators have adjusted more to humans, and tend to be more aggressive. Alligators dig dens, or "gator holes", that in the dry season may be the only sources of standing water, available to fish, insects, crustaceans, snakes, turtles, birds, and other animals.
Encounters with crocodiles and alligators occur because more and more of their native habitat is being developed or used for recreational activities.
Turtles are found in all habitats of South Florida: freshwater, marine, and terrestrial. Freshwater turtles can be divided into four groups:
Of the seven species of sea turtles in the world, five can be found in the coastal waters of South Florida.
- bottom-walking,
- basking,
- softshell, and
- box turtles.
Tortoises are land-dwelling species, and of the four that can be found in North American, only the Gopher Tortoise inhabits South Florida. See Table 2.
Lizards are the group of reptiles with the greatest variety. Most lizards feed on insects and other small invertebrates. See Table 3.
Iguanas, however, tend to be vegetarians.
Some lizards have chameleon-like abilities, though there are no true chameleons native to the United States. This ability to change colors aids the lizard in camouflaging itself from both predator and prey, and is very important in social communication. Color changes can also be an indication of motivational state and status. Anoles can change color, though this ability depends on sunlight or heat.At low temperatures, anoles remain dark; but after sunning, they can turn a light green.
Many of the lizards found in South Florida are not native to this area, and are usually released pets or escapees from the pet trade.
Most skinks are insectivores (insect eaters). Larger skinks prey on small mammals or other reptiles. Lizards have developed an unusual defense mechanism with their "disposable" tails. When trying to capture a fleeing lizard, a predator will often grab the lizard's tail. The tail will snap off, distracting the predator, while the lizard escapes. The tail eventually grows back, but is no longer bone--just cartilage.
Snakes account for the greatest number of reptilian species inhabiting South Florida, and can be found in all of Florida's habitats. Snakes are beneficial to the environment because they control rodent and insect populations. Quiet, relatively inactive creatures, snakes are often seen in urban areas: on sidewalks, driveways and roadways--or any suitable concrete structure that has warmed in the sun. See Table 4.
Snakes have a Jacobson's organ located in the roof of their mouths. This unique organ receives information gathered by the snake when it sticks out its forked tongue and licks gaseous particles from the air.Jacobson's organ augments the snake's sense of smell, poor hearing, and reasonably good eyesight--and helps it survive.
The snake's worst enemy is human beings, who eliminate snakes through habitat division and destruction, through fear and ignorance. Many people kill snakes only to have them identified--too late--as harmless.
We humans need to understand that we have a greater chance of dying from a lighting strike than dying from a snakebite.
Tables
Table 1.
Table 1. Order Crocodilia: Alligators and Crocodiles Family Common Name Scientific Name Crocodylidae American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus Alligatoridae American AlligatorCaiman*
Alligator mississippiensisCaiman crocodilus
Table 2. Order Testudinata: Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins Family Common Name Scientific Name Chelydridae Florida Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina osceola Kinosternidae Striped Mud Turtle Kinosternon baurii Florida Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum steindachneri Stinkpot (Musk Turtle) Sternotherus odoratus Emydidae Florida Chicken Turtle Deirochelys reticularia chrysea Ornate Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota Mangrove Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum Florida East Coast Terrapin Malachlemys terrapin tequesta Peninsula Cooter Pseudemys floridana peninsularis Florida Redbelly Turtle Pseudemys nelsoni Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri Testudinidae Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus Cheloniidae Atlantic Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas mydas Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta caretta Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys kempi Dermochelyidae Atlantic Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea coriacea Trionychidae Florida Softshell Apalone ferox
Table 3. Order Squamata - Suborder Sauria: Lizards, Geckos, Skinks, and Snakes Family Common Name Scientific Name Iguanidae Basilisk Basciliscis vittatus Green Anole Anolis carolinensis Green Bark Anole* Anolis distichus dominicensis Florida Bark Anole* Anolis distichus floridanus Cuban Brown Anole* Anolis sagrei sagrei Bahaman Brown Anole* Anolis sagrei ordinatus Large-headed Anole* Anolis cybotes Knight Anole* Anolis equestris Crested Anole* Anolis cristatellus Hispaniolan Green Anole* Anolis chlorocyanus Jamaican Anole* Anolis garmani Northern Curly-tailed Lizard* Leiocephalus carinatus Hispaniolan Curly-tailed Lizard* Leiocephalus schreibersi Florida Scrub Lizard Sceloporus woodi Green Iguana* Iguana iguana Ctenosaur* Ctenosaura pectinata Gekkonidae Reef Gecko* Sphaerodactylus notatus notatus Ashy Gecko* Sphaerodactylus elegans Ocellated Gecko* Sphaerodactylus argus Indo-Pacific Gecko* Hemidactylus garnotii Tropical House Gecko* Hemidactylus mabouia Mediterranean Gecko* Hemidactylus turcicus Yellow-headed Gecko* Gonatodes albogularis Tokay Gecko* Gekko gekko Teiidae Six-lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus Ameiva* Ameiva ameiva Scincidae Florida Keys Mole Skink Eumeces egregius egregius Peninsula Mole Skink Eumeces egregius onocrepis Southeastern Five-lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus Ground Skink Scincella lateralii Anguidae Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis Island Glass Lizard Ophisaurus compressus Eastern Slender Glass Lizard** Ophisaurus attenuatus longicaudus *Denotes introduced species. **Denotes species whose occurrence is questionable or incidental
Table 4. Order Squamata - Suborder Serpentes Family Common Name Scientific Name Colubridae Florida Green Water Snake Nerodia floridana Brown Water Snake Nerodia taxispilota Florida Banded Water Snake Nerodia fasciata pictiventris Mangrove Salt Marsh Snake Nerodia clarkii compressicauda South Florida Swamp Snake Seminatrix pygaea cyclas Florida Brown Snake Storeria dekayi victa Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Peninsula Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sacjebuu Striped Crayfish Snake Regina alleni Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos Pine Woods Snake Rhadinea flavilata Southern Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus punctatus Key Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus acricus Eastern Mud Snake Farancia abacura abacura Everglades Racer Coluber constrictor paludicola Southern Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus Eastern Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum flagellum Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon corais couperi Corn Snake Elaphe guttata guttata Yellow Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata Everglades Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni Florida Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus Florida Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus floridana Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides Florida Scarlet Snake Cemphora coccinea coccinea Coastal Dunes Crowned Snake Tantilla relicta pamlica Peninsular Crowned Snake Tantilla relicta relicta Rim Rock Crowned Snake Tantilla oolitica Brahminy Blind Snake* Ramphotyphlops bramina Elapidae Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius fulvius Viperidae Florida Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorous conanti Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius barbouri Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus *Denotes introduced species. **Denotes species whose occurrence is questionable or incidental
Footnotes
1. This document is WEC71, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date April, 1996. Reviewed September, 2002. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Please visit the FAIRS Website at http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Denise S. Rocus, wildlife information specialist, and Frank J. Mazzotti, Ph.D., assistant professor and urban wildlife extension scientist, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Broward County Extension Office, District V, Davie, FL. Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.