reptiles of florida - wildlife ecology and conservation at uf/ifas
TRANSCRIPT
1
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
5
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
14
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
26
Questions?