The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed three native Florida reptile species as endangered.
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The Florida Keys mole skink, the Key neck ring snake and the rim snake are now protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA helps protect animals that are at risk of extinction from being killed, captured or traded.
Florida’s extraordinary wildlife and habitats are found nowhere else in the world, and protecting them takes strong partnerships and sound science,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker in a statement on July 20.
Both the Key neck ring snake and the rim snake are small and nonvenomous. They both live in limestone outcroppings, which is a habitat where specific plant species inhabit the porous rock.
This type of habitat is only found in some regions of Florida and the Bahamas. The Key neck ring snake is native only to the Florida Keys, while the rim snake can be found in parts of Miami-Dade County and the Keys. Due to their limited habitat options, this makes them extremely vulnerable.
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The Florida Keys mole skink is found only in Monroe County. They are small and elusive creatures that spend most of their time underground.
The tan lizard was previously listed as a threatened species, but now has risen through the ranks as currently endangered.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, they will be working with local partners, tribes, state and local agencies to conserve these species and their ecosystems.
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