Reptiles

Diamondback Terrapin (a turtle) in the grass. — Diamondback terrapins live in the brackish coastal tidal marshes from Massachusetts to Texas.
NPS Photo

Reptiles, of the class Reptilia, are air-breathing, mostly cold-blooded vertebrates. They commonly identified by their dry, scaly skin and lay eggs. They are a very diverse group with over 8,700 species. Today, many species of reptiles continue to face the threat of extinction due to habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation.

Many different reptilian species occupy the land and water of Fort Pulaski National Monument. If you look closely, you might spot small turtles and lizards on Cockspur Island. Nonvenomous rat snakes sometimes appear inside the fort. In the summer months, alligators often make their appearance in the fort's moat.

So, keep your eyes open—you may catch a glimpse of some of the reptiles that call Cockspur and McQueens Islands home!

Some of the reptiles that call Fort Pulaski National Monument home are pictured below.