Reptiles
Florida is home to at least 88 native species of reptiles (Class Reptilia). Many nonnative species also have established breeding populations in the state. Reptiles have characteristics intermediate between amphibians and those of mammals and birds. The complete terrestrial existence of reptiles was made possible with the evolution of the amniotic egg as well as an integument of the epidermal scales and improved respiratory, excretory, and circulatory mechanisms. All of the reptiles listed below have been documented to occur in NATL either by formal survey techniques or casual observations.
Class Reptilia
Family ALLIGATORIDAE | Alligators and Caimans |
Alligator | Alligators |
Alligator mississippiensis | American Alligator |
Family EMYDIDAE | Box and Water Turtles |
Deirochelys | Water Turtles |
Deirochelys reticularia | Chicken Turtle |
Pseudemys | Cooters |
Pseudemys floridana | Florida Cooter |
Terrapene | Box Turtles |
Terrapene carolina bauri | Florida Box Turtle |
Trachemys | Sliders |
Trachemys scripta scripta | Yellow-bellied slider |
Family CHELYDRIDAE | Snapping Turtles and Big-headed Turtles |
Chelydra | Snapping Turtles |
Chelydra serpentina | Snapping Turtle |
Family TESTUDINIDAE | Tortoises |
Gopherus | Tortoises |
Gopherus polyphemus | Gopher Tortoise |
Family IGUANIDAE | Iguanids |
Anolis | Anoles |
Anolis carolinenis | Green Anole (more) |
Anolis sagrei | Brown Anole (more) |
Sceloporus | Spiney Lizards |
Sceloporus undulatus undulatus | Southern Fence Lizard (more) |
Family SCINCIDAE | Skinks |
Eumeces | Skinks |
Eumeces inexpectatus | Southeastern Five-lined Skink (more) |
Eumeces fasciatus | Five-lined Skink |
Eumeces laticeps | Broad-headed Skink (more) |
Scincella | Ground Skinks |
Scincella lateralis | Ground Skink (more) |
Family BOIDAE | Boas and Pythons |
Boa constrictor | Boa Constrictor (see note 1) |
Family COLUBRIDAE | Colubrid Snakes |
Coluber | Racers |
Coluber constricter | Black Racer (more) |
Diadophis | Ringneck Snakes |
Diadophis punctatus punctatus | Southern Ringneck Snake |
Elaphe | Rat Snakes |
Pantherophis alleghaniensis | Yellow Rat Snake (more) |
Nerodia | Water Snakes |
Nerodia fasciata pictiventris | Florida Banded Watersnake |
Tantilla | Crowned Snakes |
Tantilla relicta neilli | Central Florida Crowned Snake |
Thamnophis | Garter and Ribbon Snakes |
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis | Eastern Garter Snake |
Family ELAPIDAE | Coral Snakes and Cobras |
Micrurus | Coral Snakes |
Micrurus fulvius fulvius | Eastern Coral Snake | Family VIPERIDAE | Vipers and Pit Vipers |
Agkistrodon | Cottonmouths, Copperheads |
Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti | Water Moccasin (see note 2) |
Note 1: In October 2003, a large Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor) was found in NATL in grid square H5. It had a rabbit in its stomach and was probably a pet that had been released or escaped.
Note 2: Occurs in central marsh of NATL-east; not known from SEEP.