Invasive Species

Invasive lionfish caught in the park.

Yasmeen Smalley

The spread of invasive species is recognized as one of the major factors contributing to ecosystem change throughout the world. An invasive species is a "non-native species whose introduction does, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal or plant health."

Invasive species often lack natural predators to keep their numbers in check. Because of its warm climate, South Florida is an inviting place for them. Whenever possible, park managers attempt to control the distribution and spread of these species. Please do not release an exotic plant or animal into the wild, even if you think it is harmless.

Many invasive species may be controlled if caught early enough, so please report sightings to proper authorities. Click here to report the sighting of a new invasive species in the park. Please provide as much information as possible (date, location, number, size, image and/or behavior). A list of invasive species that may be found in the park is below.

Type	Scientific Name	Common Name	Frequency in the park
Amphibian	Bufo marinus	Giant toad, cane toad	Abundant
Amphibian	Eleutherodactylus planirostris planirostris	Greenhouse frog	Common
Amphibian	Osteopilus septentrionalis	Cuban tree frog	Common
Bird	Acridotheres tristis	Common myna	Occasional
Bird	Cygnus olor	Mute Swan	Rare
Bird	Sturnus vulgaris	European starling	Common
Fish	Amphilophus citrinellum	Midas Cichlid	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Astronotus ocellatus	Oscar	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Chromileptes altivelis	Panther grouper, humpback grouper	A single individual has been reported and removed
Fish	Cichla ocellaris	peacock cichlid, butterfly peacock bass	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Cichlasoma bimaculatum	Black acara	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Cichlasoma urophthalamus	Mayan cichlid	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Clarias batrachus	walking catfish, clarias catfish	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Ctenopharyngodon idella	grass carp	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Hemichromis letourneauxi	Jewel Cichlid	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Hemichromis letourneuxi	African jewelfish	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Leporinus fasciatus	banded leporinus	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Oreochromis aureus	blue tilapia	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Oreochromis mossambicus	Mozambique tilapia	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Parachromis managuensis	Jaguar cichlid	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Pterois volitans/miles	Lionfish (red lionfish, striped lionfish)	Common, and increasing in occurrence. Visit our lionfish page
Fish	Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus	Orinoco Sailfin Catfish	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Tilapia mariae	spotted tilapia	Observed in canals along park's western boundary
Fish	Zanclus cornutus	Moorish idol	What is believed to be a single individual has been repeatedly observed on reefs along the park's eastern boundary
Insect	Cactoblastis cactorum	Prickly pear moth, cactus moth	Rare
Insect	Solenopsis spp.	Imported red fireant	Common
Mammal	Felis domesticus	Feral cat	Occasional
Mammal	Rattus rattus	Black rat	Common
Mammal	Sciurus aureogaster	Mexican red-bellied squirrel	Rare
Reptile	Anolis sagrei	Cuban brown anole	Common to abundant
Reptile	Basiliscus vittatus	Brown basilisk lizard ('Jesus lizard')	Common
Reptile	Hemidactylus garnotti	Indo-Pacific gecko	Occasional to common
Reptile	Hemidactylus mabouia	Tropical house gecko	Occasional to common
Reptile	Hemidactylus turcicus	Mediterranean gecko	Occasional
Reptile	Iguana iguana	Green iguana	Common
Reptile	Ctenosaura similis	Black spiny-tailed iguana	Rare
Reptile	Agama agama	Common agama	Frequently seen around park entrance
Reptile	Python molurus bivittatus	Burmese python	Rare; Visit the Everglades python page
Reptile	Ramphotyphlops braminus	Brahminy blindsnake	Occasional
Reptile	Tupinambis merianae	Black and white tegu lizard	Observed near park's mainland boundary
Reptile	Varanus spp	Monitor lizard	Observed near park's mainland boundary

Additional information:

• Exotic plants in the park
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• USGS non-indigenous aquatic species
• Everglades Cooperative invasive species management area
• Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
• USDA national invasive species center