Reptiles

Many of the best-known Everglades residents fall within this fascinating class of animals. More than 50 distinct kinds of reptiles inhabit the park. These species range from the formidable American crocodile to the diminutive green anole.

 

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

 

Order Crocodilia (crocodiles, caimans, and alligators)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Status
American alligator	Alligator mississippiensis	T
Caiman²	Caiman crocodilus	U
American crocodile	Crocodylus acutus	T
Order Squamata (lizards and 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 snake	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 reef 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
Florida 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.