Meet The Species
American Alligator
The most feared predator of the Everglades, the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) once considered an endangered species has begun to thrive again in conditions like the Everglades. The prehistoric dinosaur can live around 60 years if healthy and remain the oldest living species. The next most closely related current species are all avian. American alligators are cold blooded which means they do not regulate their own heat, thus leading to sitings of them sun bathing on banks throughout the park. They are always carefully watched as there is a multi-million dollar industry on their meat and hides.
Florida Panther
The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is an endangered subspecies of the cougar. Like the alligator, the Florida panther almost reached a point of extinction with 20 left in the world, but has seen a resurgence and has shot back up to roughly 160 and climbing. Their dwindling numbers were brought on by habitat destruction by early settlers. They typically prefer Florida swamps but have a living range of over 200 miles. Similar to the alligator whom was named the state reptile in 1983, the Florida panther was named the state animal in 1982.
Bald Eagle (Gold Eagle)
The eagle comes in 60 different species but most notably for our wetlands, we see the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). These eagle species range throughout the country but predominantly stick to wetland environments in the southern region. The majority of them prefer ares with no human disturbance, causing habitat loss to be their main competing factor. They are held at such a high regard that not only are they our nation’s symbol, but also the apex predator of the avian world. Interestingly enough, the golden eagle is the national bird for five other countries including Austria, Germany, Albania, Mexico and Kazakhstan.
Egret
The great egret (ardea alba) is one of the many that inhabit the wetlands. Others include, the cattle egret, snowy egret and common egret. These wading birds are known for their wetland marshy environments and their colonial nesting groups that work together to raise the young. Like our other species, the egret almost saw extinction in the 19th century when their plumage was very popular for women's hats. Now thriving, they have come the symbol of the national audubon society.
Alligator Gar
The alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is widely considered a living fossil as they are predicted to be a couple hundred million years old. They used to be more global but have been forced to southern regions of the country due to habitat loss. With razor sharp teeth and a possible growth range of 300 pounds, these aquatic beasts are predators in their own domain but also can breathe on land. They used to be considered a pest to sport fisherman, but have recently been deemed protected species as they are key species to their environment.
Fox
The grey (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) or red fox ((Vulpes Vulpes) is a small omnivores species that is known for their cunning and is often referenced in pop culture. They walk on their toes and have retractable claws while typically staying in small families. They can be found everywhere except antarctica but make their home in grasslands and marshes such as the Everglades. They are slowly losing numbers as they are highly sought after for their coat and habitat destruction. Furthermore, these animals are slowly being subjected to domestication, increasing life span but diminishing wild populations.