Animals

NPS image by Yasmeen Smalley

The park is home to an incredible diversity of animals and plants including over 600 native fish, neo-tropical water birds and migratory habitat, and 20 threatened and endangered species including sea turtles, manatees, the Schaus' swallowtail butterfly and Florida semaphore cactus. Some animals and plants are in the northern limits of their ranges.

The park preserves unique marine habitat and nursery environments that sustain diverse native fishery resources and support world-class fishing for spiny lobster, snapper, grouper, tarpon and bonefish.