Reptiles

Reptiles are cold-blooded creatures, which means that they cannot maintain their own body temperature. Instead, reptiles obtain heat from environmental heat sources (most commonly the sun), and sometimes attain body temperatures hotter than those of other mammals. Reptiles have lungs, external scales or bony plates, and usually lay eggs. The most common groupings of reptiles are snakes, lizards, crocodilians, and turtles.

Lizards

Perhaps because lizards like Florida's climate as much as people do, there are actually more introduced species of lizard in Florida (23 species, 4 subspecies) than native varieties (16 species, 5 subspecies). Several varieties of lizard-a term which actually applies to anoles, lizards, skinks, and geckos-have tails that break off easily to distract predators. (In some species, the tail will actually move and flop to further interest the predator while the lizard escapes). Others have colorful tails designed to distract predators from the lizard's head during an attack. To see the full list of lizard species that are found in Florida, click here.

Like bats (profiled below), lizards play an essential role in Florida' ecology. Not only do most of Florida's lizards eat insects, which the state has in ample supply, but many are vital sources of prey for larger lizards, birds, mammals, and snakes. Two native Florida lizard species enjoy protection under federal law-the blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregious lividus) and sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) - and one is protected under state law as a species of special concern: the Florida Keys mole skink (Eumeces egregious egregious).

Although no published inventories exist of herpetofauna diversity in the littoral zone of Lake Okeechobee, the COE's 18 month wildlife and habitat utilization survey in 1997-8 encountered the Southeastern five-lined skink (Eumeces inexpectatus). We profile this species briefly below, along with the endangered Blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregious lividus). That species inhabits the Lake Wales region of Florida, which is a part of the Okeechobee watershed.

Snakes

44 native species of snake (and 41 subspecies) are found in Florida, 6 of which are poisonous: the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius), southern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix), Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous conanti), eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus), timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), and Dusky Pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri). Two of Florida's native snakes are federally listed as threatened-the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) and the Atlantic salt marsh snake (Neordia clarkii taeniata)-while 9 species (including those two) are listed as threatened or of special concern by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. One snake species has been introduced to Florida: the Brahminy blind snake (Ramphotyphlops bramina).

Since 6 Florida species are poisonous, extensive information is available on them via the Internet. One good source of information is the Florida Museum of Natural History's Guide to Florida's Venomous Snakes at: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/venomsnk.htm#TOP , and a second is the Florida Department of Agriculture's guide for Treating and Preventing Poisonous Bites. More general information on snakes can be found on the University of Florida's Online Guide to Snakes of Florida. While practical advice for removing problem snakes from homes can be found on the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Services' Snakes: Removing from Dwellings factsheet.

Thankfully, only 4 of the state's 6 poisonous species live around Lake Okeechobee: the Diamondback rattlesnake, dusky pygmy rattlesnake, cottonmouth, and the coral snake. Several non-poisonous snake species are also extremely common in the Lake's littoral zone-the Florida green water snake (Nerodia floridana) and the banded water snake (Nerodia fasciata)- and two others were encountered during the COE's 18 month wildlife survey (the Florida brown snake (Nerodia taxispilota) and Peninsula ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus). We profile a few of these species below.

Although Cottonmouth are not particularly abundant, they are often confused with the more common (and harmless) brown water snake. Cottonmouth can be distinguished from this species by the way they swim-they keep their head well out of water -as well as by the shape of their heads, the shape of their pupils (elliptical, not round), and the location of their eyes-which are not visible from directly above. (For more information on identifying this species, see the Florida Museum of Natural History's Guide to Florida's Venomous Snakes. They also have a facial pit between the nostril and eye (water snakes do not), and heat-sensitive sensory organs that help them find and strike warm-blooded prey-even in the dark. Because the cottonmouth's bite can be fatal (it is far more serious than that of a copperhead), anyone bitten by one should seek professional medical attention right away.

Although the Dusky Pygmy rattlesnake does not make much noise (it reportedly sounds more like an insect buzzing than a rattlesnake), it is aggressive and quick to strike. The bite of this snake is rarely fatal, but it can be extremely painful and can result in the loss of a digit.

Like other members of the pit viper family, the dusky pygmy has a facial pit between the nostril and eye, and pupils that are elliptical, not round. This species is sometimes confused with two non-venomous Florida hognose snake species, but the hognoses have an upturned, shovel-like nose while the pygmy rattler's nose is blunt and round. (To see drawings of the differences between these two species, see the Florida Museum of Natural History's Guide to Florida's Venomous Snakes.)

Like many other watersnakes, the Florida green water snake is commonly mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth. (Not only is the cottonmouth darker, but its pupils have a different shape (elliptical as opposed to round), its head has a different shape (it is triangular), its eyes do not show from the top, and it tends to issue a warning display (it opens its white-colored mouth). Although these snakes have valuable ecological functions-they eat all manner of frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and fish-they are often killed because they are mistaken for cottonmouth.

Turtles

Florida's marine, terrestrial, and freshwater habitats sustain 25 native species of turtle, tortoise, and terrapin and 22 subspecies. These include 5 of the world's 7 species of sea turtle-the Atlantic green (Chelonia mydas mydas), Atlantic hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata imbricata), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta caretta), Kemps Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), and Atlantic Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea coriacea)-1 tortoise species (the Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), plus myriad terrapin and freshwater turtle species.

The freshwater species native to Florida can be divided into 4 categories (bottom-walking, basking, softshell, and box turtles), and include: the Striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii), Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) (Sternotherus odoratus), Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana), Florida redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni), box turtle (Terrapene Carolina), and Florida softshell (Apalone ferox). For a full list of Florida's turtle species, see the Florida Museum of Natural History's Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles.

According to the COE's wildlife and habitat utilization study for the western littoral zone of Lake Okeechobee, there is a commercial fishery for the Florida softshell turtle on the Lake. Although the number of turtles harvested from the Lake annually is not mentioned in the survey, the majority of harvested turtles are reportedly shipped to Japan, or sold locally to the Miccossukee Native American tribe. We accordingly profile this species on this website.

Crocodilians

This order of reptiles contains both crocodiles, which live in brackish and marine habitats, and alligators, which live in fresh water. Because Lake Okeechobee is home only to alligators, we profile the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis): The American alligator is a large reptile that inhabits shallow lakes, ponds, and rivers throughout the southeast-it can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as the Carolinas. Male alligators often reach lengths of 11 feet (females are about 5 feet long), and can weigh up to 500 pounds. They eat turtles, snakes, birds, and small mammals, and usually feed at night. (Alligator mississippiensis) here. Extensive information on this species is also available on other websites because alligators are prevalent throughout Florida and dangerous. For more information on alligators, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's website, the official site of the Commission's alligator management program, or the Living With Alligators portion of the Commission's website.

Although Florida is home to an estimated one million alligators, alligators are listed as threatened under the ESA because they are similar in appearance to the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), which is listed as endangered under the ESA. Alligators are also listed on Appendix II of CITES (the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna), and on the IUCN Red List (they are category LRlc (low risk, least concern). They are a species of special concern in Florida, which means that it is illegal to feed, tease, harass, capture, kill, or molest them. A management and trapping program for alligators exists and is strictly regulated by the Florida Game and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

According to the COE's Wildlife and Habitat Utilization study for the western littoral zone of Lake Okeechobee, there is a commercial fishery for Alligator in the Lake. Although no information is included on the volume of the harvest, the harvested animals reportedly are caught to supplement the stock in alligator farming operations.

Since Floridians often live or play close to alligator habitat, the FWC offers some important, practical tips for avoiding conflicts with this animal. Some of their tips include:

• DON'T swim outside posted swimming areas.
• DON'T swim at night or dusk (this is when alligators most actively feed).
• DON'T feed or entice alligators, since this may cause them to overcome their natural shyness and to associate humans with food.
• DON'T throw food scraps into the water or leave trash on shore. (Dispose of scraps and garbage properly in garbage cans near boat ramps or fishing camps). This may attract alligators even if you are not intentionally feeding them.
• DON'T allow pets to swim in water known to contain large alligators or in areas designated for humans to swim. Dogs are attacked more often than humans, probably because they more closely resemble the natural prey of large alligators.
• DO swim with a partner in marked swimming areas. These areas have been selected and designed to reduce potential alligator/human conflicts.
• DO avoid areas with thick vegetation along shorelines when you swim. Those areas provide good natural habitat for larger alligators.
• DO tell others that feeding alligators is a violation of state law, and that this practice can cause problems for others who use the water for recreational purposes.

Because the human population of Florida has increased markedly since the 1970s, a period during which alligator numbers also rebounded as the species was afforded protection under federal and state law, many instances of human-alligator conflicts have occurred. Between 1948 and January, 1997, 225 alligator attacks on humans were documented, 7 of which were fatal. The FWC also receives more than 10,000 alligator-related complaints annually, and removes more than 4,000 alligators per year with licensed trappers to reduce opportunities for alligator attacks. Although these numbers may seem disturbingly high, the FWC points out that the number of alligator attacks has remained constant for many years despite large increases in Florida's human and alligator populations. To find areas where you may view alligators, click here.