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Three Unique South Florida Snakes Now Endangered
25 Jul
Summary
- Three native South Florida reptiles now protected under the Endangered Species Act.
- Climate change and sea level rise are major threats to these species.
- The Florida Keys mole skink, Key ring-necked snake, and rim rock crowned snake are newly listed.
Three native South Florida reptile species were officially designated as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 20. This protection under the Endangered Species Act aims to prevent the extinction of these unique creatures. The species newly added to the list are the Florida Keys mole skink, the Key ring-necked snake, and the rim rock crowned snake.
All three species face significant threats from climate change, with sea level rise posing a particular risk given their limited geographical ranges. The Florida Keys mole skink, described as one of Florida's rarest reptiles, has been documented on only 15 islands in Monroe County since 2000.
The Key ring-necked snake and the rim rock crowned snake are small, nonvenomous snakes that inhabit specific limestone outcroppings in pine rocklands and rockland hammocks. These ecosystems are found exclusively in Florida and the Bahamas. The ring-necked snake is native to the Florida Keys, while the rim rock crowned snake is found in Miami-Dade County.
