Reptiles of Florida - Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at UF/IFAS

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Order Crocodylia

• Lizard-like reptiles that attain huge sizes

• Have osteoderms: armored scales that incorporate bone

• Have some degree of parental care

• Create large, self-incubating mound nests

Photo By: E. Condon

Family Alligatoridae• Only 2 species:

– Alligator mississippiensis (North America)

– Alligator sinesis (China)

• All teeth from lower jaw inside closed mouth

• No lingual salt glands

Photo By: T. Blunden

Alligator mississippiensis• Broad snout• No teeth from lower jaw

visible when mouth closed

• Once threatened• Occur in salt marshes• Ecosystem Engineer!

• American AlligatorPhoto By: E. Condon

Photo By: T. Blunden

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Family Crocodylidae

• When mouth is closed, 4th tooth in lower jaw visible

• Lingual salt glands are well developed indicating salt water natural history

• Spectacled caiman in southern FL now introduced

Crocodylus acutus• Long, slender snout• 4th tooth of lower jaw

visible when mouth closed

• Often bask w/ mouth open

• Federally Endangered –restricted to south FL

• American Crocodile

Photo By: S. Holt

Family Anguidae

• Lateral groove• Movable eyelids• External ear openings• Very stiff/brittle to touch (osteoderms in skin)• Tails have well defined fracture planes• Short bodies w/ extremely long, fragile tails

Ophisaurus ventralis

• No stripes below the lateral groove

• Eyelids and external ear openings

• Diurnal• Relatively common

• Eastern Glass LizardPhoto By: J. Jensen

Family Gekkonidae

• Lizards w/ specialized toepads for climbing up and down vertical smooth surfaces

• Many spp. are nocturnal• Many introduced species throughout FL

• Mostly south FL!

Hemydactylus turcicus

• EXOTIC• Nocturnal• Tubercles on head,

body, legs and tail• Pale overall w/ dark

spots• Makes mouse-like

vocalization

• Mediterranean Gecko

Family Polychridae

• Largest lizard genus• Dewlap (throat fan)

• Have well developed ability to change color• Pads on toes to aid in climbing• Many introduced species established in FL

• Especially South FL!

Anolis carolinensis

• Small and slender• Usually green, but may

turn to brown or gray• Long flattened snout• Pink dewlap, except in SW

FL where it is pale grey or white

• Green Anole

Photo By: T. Blunden

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Anolis sagrei

• EXOTIC• Brown or gray • Males have orange dewlap

w/ yellow outline• Females smaller, often with a

white line on back• Extremely common in

urban and suburban areas

• Brown Anole

Family Phrynosomatidae

• Well developed social behaviors• Florida spp. have strongly keeled scales

Sceloporous undulatus• Sexually dimorphic

– ♂ - strong iridescent blue patches on throat and stomach; brownish dorsum

– ♀ -striped gray-brown dorsum, mostly plain below

• Eastern Fence Lizard

Photos By: T. Blunden

Sceloporos woodi

• Rare due to restricted range: scrub specialist

• Need open sandy areas to survive

• Similar to S. undulatusbut with strong brown lateral stripes

• Florida Scrub Lizard

Photo By: T. Spinker

Family Scincidae

• Smooth and shiny • Highly variable morphologies • Diurnal, active foragers• Terrestrial• Common

Eumeces inexpectatus• 5-lined skink• Scales under tail all the

same size• Light stripes tend to be

narrow• Juveniles have beautiful

coloring, adults more dull

• Southeastern Five-lined Skink

Photos By: J. Jensen

Eumeces laticeps• 5-lined skink• Center row of scales under

the tail large• Large and brown, broad

heads, males have red-orange head

• Diurnal

• Broad-headed SkinkPhotos By: J. Jensen

Scincella lateralis

• Small, slender size, long tail, small legs (5 toes)

• Overall brown w/ dark dorsolateral stripe

• Belly white/yellowish• Common but rarely seen,

usually under leaf litter• Diurnal

• Ground SkinkPhoto By: C. Camp

Photo By: T. Blunden

Family Teiidae

• Whiptails• Extremely difficult to catch by hand• Very active, alert diurnal foragers• Many species unisexual – reproduce

through parthenogenesis (development of an unfertilized egg) – males unknown for some species

• Many exotics in FL, esp. South FL!

Aspidocelis / Cnemidophorus sexlineatus

• Innumerable small scales above, 8 scale rows below• Thin pale stripes on black background• Prefer open, well drained areas

•Six-lined Racerunner

Pseudotriton montanus

• Plain rusty brown color above

• Pale venter with sparse dark speckles

• Eastern / Rusty Mud Salamander (listed as P. m. floridanus in guide)

Photo By: W. Van Devender

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Questions?