Introduced Species in Florida

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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Just an interesting topic.

Introduced pythons are a well-known problem in Florida, but the following article from 2015 says that something like 140 species of exotic herptiles have been recorded from the wild in the state, and over 50 species are confirmed as established (the break-down given for that being about 40 lizards, 4 or 5 snakes, 1 to 4 turtles, 1 crocodylian, and 3 or 4 frogs). Apparently Florida has more exotic herptiles in the wild than anywhere else on Earth.
WEC320/UW365: The Invasion of Exotic Reptiles and Amphibians in Florida

This site has actual lists of the exotic vertebrate species which are established or potentially-established in Florida, with notes on year of introduction and status: Nonnative Species

I linked this article on Nile Monitors elsewhere (which is why I was thinking about the subject) and it's quite interesting: Florida’s Dragon Problem
 
The other lists are interesting too, especially the Bird list - for a country that exterminated their only native parrot, Florida have made up for it with 72 species being found there at one time or another, but only two species are established (Budgerigar and Monk Parrot) while another 44 are known to be present in the wild in Florida, including Hyacinth Macaws. They also have a Turaco, three Hornbills and several passerines and waterfowl species.
In the mammal list three species of monkey are established, and capybara are present but not yet established.
It's not mentioned in the lists on that site but African Giant Snails have been introduced and are destroying houses.

:p

Hix
 
I looked through all the lists yesterday, and they seem to have been compiled by different people using different methods. The birds, for example, include all sorts of species based on simply being present at some point, even just one individual in some cases (e.g. the Black-necked Stork, labelled as "extirpated" but noted as being one specimen living free from 1974 to 1980). I think in a lot of the cases of birds being "present" they refer to individual or irregular escapees rather than substantial numbers.

The herptiles, on the other hand, seem to only be containing species either established or common enough to be potentially established - for example, only one chelonian is noted (Red-eared Slider) and species like Nile Crocodile which have been recorded from captured specimens are not (and as I mentioned earlier, from another report, there are apparently 140 species recorded from the wild, only a third of which are on the list).

Anyway, I've changed the thread title a little so that it encompasses all introduced species and not just herptiles so it makes a wider discussion. Then I can talk about monkeys too.


On the subject of parrots, this article from 2002 about the parrots of Broward County is worth a read. It's quite long but covers all the species recorded by authors. Notably, of the macaws only Ara severa is noted as breeding, all the others were obvious escapees (as was the case in many other parrot species there).
http://www.fosbirds.org/sites/default/files/FFNs/FFNv30n4p111-131Pranty.pdf

We have studied the exotic parrot fauna of Broward County, Florida since July 1999. During this period, 31 species of parrots were observed, with 20 of these not previously known to occur in the county. Twenty-four species (77%) were documented by still or video photographs. Three species are newly reported for Florida but only one of these was photographed. Breeding of 14 species was confirmed during our study. We summarize the population status, distribution, and verifiable evidence of occurrence for all parrots that have been reported in Broward County, including seven species observed prior to, but not during, our study. Populations of Red-crowned Parrots in Broward County may be suitable for reintroduction programs into Mexico, should such an effort be undertaken. Increased monitoring of parrots and other exotic birds in Florida is encouraged.
 
Regarding monkeys in Florida, I thought I'd recently started a thread (or posted in an existing thread) about the Rhesus Macaques there, but I can't find it.

So here's an article about them from July this year: Wild monkeys roaming Florida and breeding like, well, monkeys

The overall population is in the hundreds now, with around 200 at Silver Springs and others elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, animal rights nuts are impeding study of the monkeys (at the end of the article above).

This article from 2012 notes that over 700 (!) macaques had been live-captured by one trapper from the area of Silver Springs over the previous decade: Capture of monkeys in Silver Springs sparks debate


On the Vervet Monkeys, here's an article from 2015 on a study of them at Dania Beach which shows the population, thought to have been started in the 1950s, is stable with around 35 animals in four groups.
Dania Beach full of monkey business

Another interesting article: The Mystery of the Wild Monkeys of Dania: A Look Into The Species Living In South Florida’s Swampland

The Myfwc site (linked earlier) says there are "well over 120 animals ... in Broward County near Dania". This article from this year also says "over 100": Flying Monkeys? Primates Flourish Near Fort Lauderdale Airport
 
Hix said:
The other lists are interesting too, especially the Bird list - for a country that exterminated their only native parrot, Florida have made up for it with 72 species being found there at one time or another, but only two species are established (Budgerigar and Monk Parrot) while another 44 are known to be present in the wild in Florida, including Hyacinth Macaws. They also have a Turaco, three Hornbills and several passerines and waterfowl species.
In the mammal list three species of monkey are established, and capybara are present but not yet established.
It's not mentioned in the lists on that site but African Giant Snails have been introduced and are destroying houses.

:p

Hix
Click to expand...
Many of these parrot species are established now in small numbers, but not large enough to be on the ABA's checklist. Capybaras have recently been considered established. Gray-Headed Swamphens are also present, along with White-Nosed Coatis, and Black-Tailed Jackrabbits. Currently, Jaguarundis are considered present but not established.
 
It seems like Black Hooded Parakeets must be established, I see those very frequently near my work in Tampa and over on the Gulf coast of Pinellas County. I have seen a couple capybaras when canoeing, that was quite a sight!
 
tampasteve said:
I have seen a couple capybaras when canoeing, that was quite a sight!
Click to expand...

An interesting sidelight on these feral animals - as up to the postglacial extinction capybaras, admittedly the extinct Giant Capybara Neochoerus pinckneyi, were native to Florida and the whole Gulf region, should this count as accidental rewilding?
 
Zoovolunteer said:
An interesting sidelight on these feral animals - as up to the postglacial extinction capybaras, admittedly the extinct Giant Capybara Neochoerus pinckneyi, were native to Florida and the whole Gulf region, should this count as accidental rewilding?
Click to expand...
Personally I would say "yes", interesting idea!
 
Zoovolunteer said:
An interesting sidelight on these feral animals - as up to the postglacial extinction capybaras, admittedly the extinct Giant Capybara Neochoerus pinckneyi, were native to Florida and the whole Gulf region, should this count as accidental rewilding?
Click to expand...

No, just human stupidity.....

It seems that Florida is becoming the second Hawai'i when it comes to invasions, though Hawai'i doesn't have the monkeys :p
 
I watched a documentary today about reptilian invaders in Florida and it showed a guy who made a living out of catching Argentine Black and White Tegus and selling into the Chinese pet trade.
 
Complete (hopefully) List of Florida's Introduced Terrestrial Vertebrate Species:
Mammals
Feral Dog
Feral Cat
White-Nosed Coati
Greater Capybara
House Mouse
Norway Rat
Black Rat
Nutria
Mexican Gray Squirrel
Red Deer
Sambar Deer
Wild Boar
Black-Tailed Jackrabbit
Common Squirrel Monkey
Vervet Monkey
Rhesus Macaque
Birds
Black Swan
Egyptian Goose
Muscovy Duck
Mandarin Duck
Indian Peafowl
Red Junglefowl
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Gray-Headed Swamphen
Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Monk Parakeet
Blue-Crowned Parakeet
Red-Masked Parakeet
Miltred Parakeet
White-Eyed Parakeet
Nanday Parakeet
White-Winged Parakeet
Yellow-Chevroned Parakeet
Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
Chestnut-Fronted Macaw
Red-Crowned Parrot
Red-Whiskered Bulbul
European Starling
Common Myna
Common Hill Myna
House Finch
Scaly-Breasted Munia
House Sparrow
Spot-Breasted Oriole
Reptiles
Spectacled Caiman
Brown Anole
Bark Anole
Knight Anole
Crested Anole
Large-Headed Anole
Cuban Green Anole
Hispaniolan Green Anole
Jamaican Green Anole
Green Iguana
Common Basilisk
Brown Basilisk
Black Spinytail Iguana
Mexican Spintytail Iguana
Texas Horned Lizard
Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard
Hispaniolan Curly-Tailed Lizard
Giant Ameiva
Rainbow Whiptail
Ashy Gecko
Common House Gecko
Tokay Gecko
Mediterranean Gecko
Moorish Gecko
Tropical House Gecko
Indo-Pacific Gecko
Asian Flattail House Gecko
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Mourning Gecko
African Five-Lined Skink
Variable Bloodsucker
Veiled Chameleon
Malagasy Giant Chameleon
Argentine Black-and-White Tegu
Brahminy Blind Snake
Common Boa
Rainbow Boa
Burmese Python
African Rock Python
Amphbians
Greenhouse Frog
Cuban Tree Frog
Cane Toad

This list is probably missing some. There are many more species that are present but not established, and will likely become established in the future.
 
birdsandbats said:
Complete (hopefully) List of Florida's Introduced Terrestrial Vertebrate Species:
...

This list is probably missing some. There are many more species that are present but not established, and will likely become established in the future.
Click to expand...
I put a link to the official Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) lists for exotic species in the first post of the thread.
Nonnative Species
 
I think the Nine-Banded Armadillo and the Coyote can reasonably be considered invasive as their first occurrence in Florida was the result of introductions. Although by now they have merged with naturally expanding populations from the north and west.

I also thought Florida had Axis Deer, but perhaps they are not free ranging.

I think the Capybara is a fine addition to the stare's fauna. I hope they make it. Panthers, Coyotes, and Alligators will all benefit.
 
birdsandbats said:
That includes animals that are just escapes. My list is only established animals. Plus that list is missing some established animals.
Click to expand...
And what was the source of your list?

:p

Hix
 
Pleistohorse said:
I think the Nine-Banded Armadillo and the Coyote can reasonably be considered invasive as their first occurrence in Florida was the result of introductions. Although by now they have merged with naturally expanding populations from the north and west.

I also thought Florida had Axis Deer, but perhaps they are not free ranging.
Click to expand...
I think the axis deer are only on ranches (i.e. kept for hunting), rather than being genuine wild populations.

I was surprised the armadillos were considered invasive but indeed they are. I couldn't find any firm answer on whether coyotes were listed as invasive or not, and from what I saw there also isn't any definite evidence they were introduced to Florida by people prior to the species' natural expansion.
 
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