Gulf Islands National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Gulf Islands National Seashore

This animal checklist includes amphibians, reptiles and mammals observed on

the offshore islands, on the mainland and in the waters of Gulf Islands National

Seashore. These habitats provide resting, feeding and nesting areas for a variety

of wildlife. Federal laws protect all wild animals within the park. Please keep

wildlife wild by not feeding or harassing them. Offering food is unhealthy for the

animal and potentially unsafe for you. An unrestrained pet can harm wildlife and

destroy their habitat, while possibly endangering the pet. By protecting the park’s

natural resources, the National Seashore will be preserved for all to enjoy.

Animal Checklist

The Wild in Wildlife

Although the numbers of certain

animals such as raccoons are

abundant, they are seldom seen

during the day due to their nocturnal

behavior. Sharp eyes and ears will help

you discover wildlife. The best time to

view amphibians is in the evening or

following rain. Reptiles are easily

observed in the afternoons during the

cool months, while mammals are best

spotted in the early morning and

evening hours. The National Seashore is

listed as a National Watchable Wildlife

Area. Please report new discoveries to

park staff.

For Your Eyes Only

Florida District

Key

Amphibians

! Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus C I M

! Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea C I M

! Pine Woods Treefrog Hyla femoralis C I M

! Barking Treefrog Hyla gratiosa C M

! Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella C I M

! Ornate Chorus Frog Pseudacris ornata C M

! Pig Frog Rana grylio C I M

! Southern Leopard Frog Rana utricularia C I M

Frogs

Salamanders and Newts

! Two-Toed Amphiuma Amphiuma means C M

! Eastern Newt Notophthalmus viridescens C M

! Slimy Salamander Plethodon glutinosus C M

Toads

! Oak Toad Bufo quercicus C M

! Southern Toad Bufo terrestris C M

! Eastern Narrowmouth Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis C I M

I = Island

M = Mainland

A = Aquatic

C = Common

U = Uncommon

R = Rare

Abundance Habitat Status - Federal (F) & State (S)

T = Threatened

E = Endangered

SSC = Species of Special Concern
Reptiles ! Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta C I A T(S & F)

! Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas U I A E(S & F)

! Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina C I M

! Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea R I A E(S & F)

! Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus R M SSC(S)

! Eastern Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum C I

! Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys kempii R I A E (S & F)

! Common Cooter Pseudemys floridana C I M

! Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina U I

! Slider Trachemys scripta C I M

Alligator, Lizards and Skinks

! American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis R I M SSC(S) T(F)

! Green Anole Anolis carolinensis C I M

! Six-Lined Racerunner Cnemidophorus sexlineatus C I M

! Mole Skink Eumeces egregius C M

! Broadhead Skink Eumeces laticeps C I M

! Eastern Glass Lizard Ophisaurus ventralis C I M

! Southern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus undulatus C M

! Ground Skink Scincella lateralis C I M

Snakes

! Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus C I M V

! Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea R I

! Southern Black Racer Coluber constrictor constrictor C I M

! Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus C I M V

! Corn Snake Elaphe guttata guttata C I M SSC (S)

! Southern Hognose Snake Heterodon simus C M

! Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum flagellum C I M

! Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius fulvius C M V

! Plainbelly Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster R M

! Yellowbelly Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster U M

! Southern Water Snake Nerodia fasciata C I M

! Banded Water Snake Nerodia fasciata fasciata U I M

! Florida Green Water Snake Nerodia floridana U M

! Brown Water Snake Nerodia taxispilota C M

! Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus C M

! Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius C M V

! Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata R M

! Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata R M

! Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus C I M

! Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis C M

Mammals

! Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana C I M

! Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus C M

! Little Brown Myotis (Bat) Myotis lucifugus C M

! Nine-Banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus C I M

! Eastern Cottontail (Rabbit) Sylvilagus floridanus U I M

! American Beaver Castor canadensis R M

! House Mouse Mus musculus U I M

! Eastern Woodrat Neotoma floridana C M

! Marsh Rice Rat Oryzomys palustris U M

! Cotton Mouse Peromyscus gossypinus U M

! Santa Rosa Beach Mouse Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus U I

! Perdido Key Beach Mouse P. polionotus trissyllepsis R I E(S & F)

! Black Rat Rattus rattus U I M

! Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis C I M

! Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus C I

! Coyote Canis latrans R M

! Common Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus U I M

! Red Fox Vulpes vulpes U I M

! Black Bear Ursus americanus R I M

! Common Raccoon Procyon lotor C I M

! Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis C I M

! Northern River Otter Lutra canadensis U I

! Manatee Trichechus manatus R A E(S & F)

! Bottle-Nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus C A

Turtles

Key

Abundance

C = Common

U = Uncommon

R = Rare

Habitat

I = Island

M = Mainland

A = Aquatic

Venomous = V

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

Status -

Federal (F)

State (S)

T = Threatened

E = Endangered

SSC = Species of

Special Concern

03/2002