Everglades’ most famous citizen—the alligator—is looked for by all
visitors to the park, who may, however, be unaware that many other kinds
of reptiles and a dozen species of amphibians dwell here.
The American crocodile, less common than the alligator and restricted to
the Florida Bay region, is a shy and secretive animal seen by few
visitors. Similar in size and appearance to the alligator, it is
distinguished by a narrower snout and a lighter color. Its habitat
overlaps that of the alligator, which prefers fresh or brackish water.
The turtles of the park include terrestrial, fresh-water, and marine
species. Box turtles are often seen along the roads. The softshell and
snapping turtles live in the fresh-water areas and are often eaten by
alligators. Loggerhead turtles nest on Cape Sable beaches, otherwise
they rarely come ashore. Their eggs are often discovered and devoured by
the abundant raccoons. But man has been largely responsible for the
loggerhead’s increasing rarity.
Although the park has about two dozen species of snakes, you may not
encounter any of them. Most are harmless—several species of snakes
frequent the waterways, and it is a mistake to assume that any water
snake you see is a moccasin. Two worth watching for are the everglades
rat snake and the indigo snake, both handsome and entirely harmless to
man. The former is a constrictor, feeding mostly on rodents. The indigo
is one of our longest snakes—sometimes reaching more than 100 inches—and
now in danger of extinction.
Ordinary caution and alertness when walking on trails is advisable; but
keep in mind that the snakes are not aggressive, and that as part of the
web of life in the park they are given protection just as are birds and
mammals.
Of those close relatives of snakes, the lizards, the Florida anole is
most commonly seen. This is the little reptile sold at circuses as a
“chameleon”; it is quite unlike the true chameleon of the Old World. The
so-called “glass snake”—which got its name from its defensive maneuver
of dropping off its tail (which is longer than the rest of its body) and
from its snakelike appearance—is actually a legless lizard. The lizards,
like the smaller snakes, are primarily insectivorous.
The park’s amphibians, too, are quite inconspicuous. The voices of frogs
and toads during the breeding season, however, are part of the
Everglades atmosphere. You will enjoy the nocturnal serenade at
egg-laying time—and it is quite possible to learn to identify species by
their songs, which are as distinctive as those of birds.
The green treefrog, with its bell-like, repeated “queenk-queenk-queenk”
call, is abundant, and can be seen and heard easily during the breeding
season, particularly at Royal Palm Hammock and on the Anhinga Trail.
The cold-blooded vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, and reptiles,
play a significant role in the balance of life in the park, feeding upon
each other and upon lesser animals and in turn being food for larger
predators such as herons, hawks, raccoons, and otters.