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Everglades National Park
Reptiles
 

Many of the best-known Everglades residents fall within this fascinating class of animals.  Over 50 distinct kinds of reptiles can be found in the park.  These species range from the formidable American crocodile to the diminutive green anole. 

 

 

Species List for Everglades National Park¹
"E" = Federally Endangered, "T" = Federally Threatened,
"I" = Invasive/Exotic, "U" = Unknown

 

Order Crocodilia (crocodiles, caimens & alligators)

Common Name Scientific Name Status
American alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

T

Caiman²

Caiman crocodilus

U

American crocodile Crocodylus acutus

T

 

 

Order Squamata (lizards & snakes)

Florida cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorous
Green anole Anolis caroliniensis
Knight anole² Anolis equestris

I,U

Brown anole Anolis sagrei

I

Florida scarlet snake Cemophora coccinea
Eastern racer Coluber constrictor
Boa constrictor² Constrictor constrictor

I,U

Eastern diamondback Crotalus adamanteus
Southern ringneck snake Diadophis punctatus
Eastern indigo Drymarchon corais

E

Corn snake Elaphae guttata
Yellow rat snake Elaphae obsoleta quadrivitatta
Everglades rat snake Elaphae obsoleta rossalleni
Southeastern five-lined skink Eumeces inexpectatus
Eastern mud snake Farancia abacura
Tokay gecko Gekko gecko

I

Indopacific gecko

Hemidactylus garnotii

I

Tropical house gecko Hemidactylus mabouia

I

Eastern hognose snake² Heterodon platyrhinos

U

Common iguana² Iguana iguana

I,U

Florida kingsnake Lempropeltis getulus
Scarlet kingsnake Lempropeltis triangulum
Eastern coachwhip² Masticophis flagellum

U

Eastern coral snake Micrurus fulvius
Mangrove salt marsh snake Nerodia clarkii

 

Florida water snake Nerodia fasciata
Florida green water snake Nerodia floridana

 

Brown water snake Nerodia taxispilota

 

Rough green snake Opheodrys aestivus
Island glass lizard Ophisaurus compressus
Eastern glass lizard² Ophisaurus ventralis

U

Burmese python Python molurus bivittatus

I

Brahminy blind snake Ramphotyphlops braminus

I

Striped crayfish snake Regina alleni
Ground skink Scincella lateralis
South florida swamp snake Seminatrix pygaea
Dusky pygmy rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
Florida geef gecko Sphaerodactylus notatus
Florida brown snake Storeia dekayi
Peninsula ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus
Eastern garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis

 

 

Order Testudines (turtles and tortoises)

Florida softshell Apalone ferox
Loggerhead Caretta caretta

T

Green turtle

Chelonia mydas

E

Florida snapping turtle

Chelydra serpentina

 

Florida chicken turtle Deirochelys reticularia
Atlantic leatherback Dermochelys coriacea

E

Atlantic hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata

E

Gopher tortoise Gopherus ployphemus
Striped mud turtle

Kinosternon baurii

 

Florida mud turtle

Kinosternon subrubrum

 

Atlantic ridley Lepidochelys kempii

E

Diamondback terrapin

Malaclemys terrapin

 

Peninsula cooter

Pseudemys floridana

 

Floirda redbelly turtle

Pseudemys nelsoni

 

Stinkpot

Sternotherus ordoratus

Florida box turtle

Terrapene carolina

 

 

 

¹Meshaka, W.E., Loftus, W.F., and Steiner, T. (2000) The Herpetofauna of Everglades National Park. Florida Scientist, 63 (2), 84-103.

²Steiner, T., and Loftus, W.F. (1991) Amphibians & Reptiles of Everglades National Park. Miami: Everglades Association.

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Baby alligator  

Did You Know?
Female alligators will vehemently protect their nests and their young until they reach one to two years of age. Keep your eyes out for baby alligators in the Everglades - they're about a foot long with yellow stripes.

Last Updated: October 20, 2009 at 07:07 EST