Native and Nonnative Crocodilians of Florida
Michiko Squires, Seth C. Farris, Brian M. Jeffery, andFrank J. Mazzotti
other_contacts: Venetia S. Briggs-Gonzalez, Eric Suarez, andAaron I. Chimelis
Florida has two native species of crocodilians, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). These federally protected species are easily confused with nonnative crocodilians found in south Florida, such as the spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus) and the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Some key features used to distinguish these animals are the shape of the head, the shape of the snout, and the pattern of nuchal scutes (bony plates in between head and shoulders). It is important to report all nonnative crocodilians so that researchers may quickly remove them in order to protect Florida's native ecosystems.
