Most people have heard of the damage caused in the Everglades by Burmese Pythons and other non-native species of snakes. Having escaped from their enclosures or been released into the wild by careless owners, these creatures can grow to monstrous sizes and damage native wildlife, including Orlando alligators. In fact, not long ago, officials found a 13-foot Burmese python in the Everglades that had attempted to swallow a 6-foot alligator whole.
Though these enormous creatures are causing just-as-enormous issues for the ecosystem, scientists have begun to focus their attention on the Argentine tegu lizard. These reptiles are popular exotic pets, just like the Burmese python, and they too were most likely released into the Everglades by negligent owners. Though these creatures are much smaller than the python, only growing to about 1.2 meters long, they pose such a great threat because they are omnivorous.
Officials are attempting to contain the tegu lizard population, although scientists say it is too late to completely eradicate the issue. Due to their indiscriminate eating habits, these creatures pose a huge threat to many local species. They have been known to eat the eggs of Orlando alligators, which are listed as a threatened species. The lizards’ voracious appetites are also coming close to completely eliminating the population of the endangered Key Largo wood rat. They are also able to survive in much lower temperatures than the python can and are a very hardy strain of reptiles.
Wild Florida is dedicated to the conservation of the Everglades’ native flora and fauna, including the Orlando alligator. To learn more about Everglades ecology or to see these magnificent creatures up close, visit our website and book your airboat tour today.
