Florida is home to a dizzying array of reptiles,
The coastal location of De Soto National Memorial and the combination of aquatic and upland forested habitats attract a wide variety of wildlife. Mammals and butterflies are found in interior habitats, amphibians and fish in wetland areas, and reptiles in both interior and wetland habitats. Birds are the most significant fauna of the site, commonly observed in the aquatic, as well as upland, areas of the park. Invertebrates, particularly fiddler crabs, are common species of the park’s mangrove swamp.
Since many of the park’s mammal species are nocturnal, including the raccoon, opossum, armadillo, and grey fox, it is unlikely to spot them during the day. The park’s reptiles are also often elusive. Among the species sometimes observed in the park, the gopher tortoise finds its home in the pine flatwoods area of the park’s interior, while the most common reptile in the park, the brown anole, is actually an exotic from Cuba. Due to the variety of habitats, birds are probably the most visible wildlife in the park. Bald eagles are occasionally observed fishing offshore in the Manatee River. Brown pelicans may also be viewed offshore throughout the year and, in winter months, are sometimes joined by American white pelicans and common loons. This marine habitat also attracts a variety of gulls, terns, and shorebirds whose species change with the seasons. Snowy, reddish, and great egrets are frequently found along the park’s shoreline or feasting on invertebrates in the mangrove forest, as are great blue, little blue, and tricolored herons. Occasionally, the endangered wood stork may be observed feeding in the mangroves as well. The richness of upland vegetation also provides habitat for many bird species. Although more difficult to observe in these forested areas, a wide range of warblers, gnatcatchers and flycatchers reside there in winter months.
A bird list is available at the park visitor center.
Vertebrate Inventory
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Table 2. Vertebrates and butterflies observed at the De Soto National Memorial.
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Birds
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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blackbird, red-winged
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(Agelaius phoeniceus)
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Pine Flatwoods, Mangroves
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bunting, indigo
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(Passerina cyanea)
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Pine Flatwoods
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cardinal, Northern
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(Cardinalis cardinalis)
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Parking lot, Mangroves
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catbird, gray
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(Dumetella carolinensis)
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Workshop area
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chuck-will's-widow
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(Caprimulgus vociferus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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collared-dove, Eurasian
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(Streptopelia decaocto)
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X
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Parking Lot, Mangroves
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cormorant, double-crested
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(Phalacrocorax auritus)
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Flying offshore
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crow, American
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(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
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Mangroves
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crow, fish
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(Corvus ossifragus)
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Mangroves
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cuckoo, yellow-billed
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(Coccyzus americanus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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dove, mourning
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(Zenaida macroura)
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Pine Flatwoods, Parking lot, Mangroves
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duck, mottled
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(Anas fulvigula)
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Flying offshore
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eagle, bald
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(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
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T T
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Flying offshore
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egret, cattle
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(Bubulcus ibis)
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Shoreline, Mangroves
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egret, great
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(Casmerodius albus)
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Shoreline
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egret, reddish
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(Egretta rufescens)
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SSC
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Shoreline
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egret, snowy
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(Egretta thula)
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SSC
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Shoreline
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flycatcher, great-crested
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(Myiarchus crinitus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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frigatebird, magnificant
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(Fregata magnificens)
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Flying overhead
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gnatcatcher, blue-gray
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(Polioptila caerulea)
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Pine Flatwoods
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goldfinch, American
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(Carduelis tristis)
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Pine Flatwoods
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grackle, boat-tailed
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(Quiscalus major)
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Pine Flatwoods
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grackle, common
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(Quiscalus quiscula)
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Pine Flatwoods
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gull, laughing
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(Larus atricilla)
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Shoreline
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hawk, red-shouldered
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(Buteo lineatus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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heron, great blue
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(Ardea herodias)
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Shoreline
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heron, little blue
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(Egretta caerula)
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SSC
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Shoreline
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heron, tricolored
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(Egretta tricolor)
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SSC
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Shoreline, Mangroves
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ibis, white
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(Eudocimus albus)
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SSC
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Mangroves, Shoreline
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jay, blue
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(Cyanocitta cristata)
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Pine Flatwoods
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killdeer
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(Charadrius vociferus)
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Shoreline
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mallard
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(Anas platyrhynchos)
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Flying offshore
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martin, purple
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(Projne subis)
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Pine Flatwoods
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merganser, common
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(Mergus merganser)
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Shoreline
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merganser, red-breasted
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(Mergus serrator)
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Pine Flatwoods
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mockingbird, Northern
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(Mimus polyglottos)
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Pine Flatwoods, Parking lot, Mangroves
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night-heron, black-crowned
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(Nycticorax nycticorax)
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Shoreline
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night-heron, yellow-crowned
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(Nycticorax violaceus)
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Shoreline
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osprey
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(Pandion haliaetus)
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SSC*
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Flying offshore, Pine Flatwoods
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oystercatcher, American
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(Haematopus palliatus)
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SSC
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Shoreline
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*Applicable only in MonroeCounty
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Table 2. cont.
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Birds
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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parakeet, monk
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(Myiopsitta monachus)
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X
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Flying over Pine Flatwoods
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pelican, American white
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(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
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Flying offshore
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pelican, brown
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(Pelecanus occidentalis)
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SSC E
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Flying offshore
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plover, black-bellied
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(Pluvialis squatarola)
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Shoreline
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plover, semipalmated
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(Charadrius semipalmatus)
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Shoreline
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robin, American
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(Turdus migratorius)
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Pine Flatwoods
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sanderling
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(Calidris alba)
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Shoreline
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sandpiper, least
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(Calidris minutilla)
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Shoreline
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sandpiper, solitary
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(Tringa solitaria)
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Shoreline
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sandpiper, spotted
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(Actitis macularia)
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Shoreline
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screech-owl, Eastern
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(Otus asio)
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Pine Flatwoods, Parking lot
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spoonbill, roseate
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(Ajaia ajaja)
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SSC
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Shoreline
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stork, wood
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(Mycteria americana)
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E E
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Shoreline
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tern, common
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(Sterna hirundo)
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Shoreline
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tern, Forster's
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(Sterna forsteri)
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Shoreline
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tern, least
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(Sterna antillarum)
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T E
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Shoreline
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tern, royal
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(Sterna maxima)
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Shoreline
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tern, sandwich
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(Sterna sandivicensis)
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Shoreline
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turnstone, ruddy
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(Arenaria interpres)
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Shoreline
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vulture, black
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(Coragyps atratus)
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Flying Overhead, Pine Flatwoods
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vulture, turkey
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(Cathartes aura)
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Flying Overhead
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warbler, black-and-white
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(Mniotilta varia)
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Pine Flatwoods
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warbler, blackpoll
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(Dendroica striata)
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Pine Flatwoods
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warbler, Cape May
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(Dendroica tigrina)
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Mangroves
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warbler, hooded
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(Wilsonia citrina)
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Pine Flatwoods
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warbler, palm
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(Dendroica palmarum)
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Pine Flatwoods, Mangroves
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warbler, prairie
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(Dendroica discolor)
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Pine Flatwoods
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warbler, yellow-rumped
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(Dendroica coronata)
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Pine Flatwoods, Mangroves
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waxwing, cedar
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(Bombycilla cedrorum)
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Pine Flatwoods
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willet
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(Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
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Shoreline
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woodpecker, downy
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(Picoides pubescens)
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Pine Flatwoods
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woodpecker, pileated
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(Dryocopus pileatus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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woodpecker, red-bellied
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(Melanerpes carolinus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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wren, Carolina
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(Thryothorus ludovicianus)
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Pine Flatwoods, Mangroves
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yellowthroat, common
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(Geothlypsis trichas)
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Pine Flatwoods
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Mammals
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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armadillo
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(Dasypus novemcinctus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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opossum
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(Didelphis virginiana)
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Pine Flatwoods
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raccoon
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(Procyon lotor)
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Pine Flatwoods
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mole, Eastern
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(Scalopus aquaticus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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rabbit, marsh
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(Sylvilagus palustris)
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Pine Flatwoods
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squirrel, Eastern gray
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(Sciurus carolinensis)
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Pine Flatwoods
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dog
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Canis familiaris
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X
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Entire property
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cat
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Felis catus
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X
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Workshop area
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Table 2. cont.
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Reptiles
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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anole, brown
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(Anolis sagrei)
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X
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Pine Flatwoods, Parking lot
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turtle, snapping
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(Chelydra serpentina)
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Culvert on roadside
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snake, black
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Unknown
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Roadside
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snake, red rat
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(Elaphe guttata)
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SSC*
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Mangroves
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skink, southeastern-five lined
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(Eumeces inexpectatus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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tortoise, gopher
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(Gopherus polyphemus)
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SSC T
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Pine Flatwoods
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gecko, indo-pacific
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(Hemidactylus garnoti)
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X
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VisitorCenter
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turtle, mud
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(Kinosternon subrubrum)
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Culvert by workshop area
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turtle, box
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(Terrapene carolina)
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Pine Flatwoods
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iguana, green
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(Iguana iguana)
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X
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Driveway to workshop area
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iguana, spiny-tailed
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(Ctenosaura similis)
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X
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Pine Flatwoods at park entrance
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* Applicable only in lower Florida Keys
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Amphibians
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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frog, greenhouse
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(Eleutherodactylus planirostris)
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X
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Call heard in workshop area
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frog, southern leopard
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(Rana sphenocephala)
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Culvert by entrance
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treefrog, barking
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(Hyla gratiosa)
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Call heard from parking lot
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treefrog, cuban
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(Osteopilus septentrionalis)
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X
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Parking lot
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treefrog, squirrel
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(Hyla squirella)
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Call heard in workshop area
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frog, southern cricket
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(Acris gryllus)
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Call heard in workshop area
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toad, southern
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(Bufo terrestris)
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Culvert by entrance
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Fish
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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killifish, marsh
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(Fundulus confluentus)
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Boardwalk creek, Culvert by entrance
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killifish, gulf
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(Fundulus grandis)
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Boardwalk creek, Culvert by entrance
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mosquitofish
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(Gambusia holbrooki)
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Culvert by entrance
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moquitofish
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(Gambusia sp.)
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Boardwalk creek, Culvert by entrance
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molly, sailfin
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(Poecilia latipinna)
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Culvert by entrance
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Butterflies
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Common Name
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Species Name
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Designated Status FWC FWS
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Location (Trail) / Habitat
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butterfly, gulf fritillary
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(Argraulis vanillae)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, zebra
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(Heliconius charithonius)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, black swallowtail
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(Papilio polyxenes)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, cloudless sulphur
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(Phoebis sennae)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, dorantes skipper
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(Urbanus dorantes)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, great southern white
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(Ascia monuste)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, spicebush swallowtail
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(Papilio troilus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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butterfly, Eastern tiger swallowtail
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(Papilio glaucus)
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Pine Flatwoods
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Designated Status
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E- Endangered
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X- Exotic
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T- Threatened
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SSC- Species of special concern
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