The Everglades is a two million acre wetland ecosystem that reaches from central Florida, near Orlando, all the way south to Florida Bay. Since the 1800’s, human actions have been altering the Everglades landscape. Water diversions and flood control projects cut water flows and connections between wetlands throughout the Everglades. Combined with agricultural and urban development, the size of the Everglades has decreased dramatically. The Everglades is internationally known for its extraordinary wildlife. From Florida Panthers to crocodiles, manatees, and a huge host of birds such as roseate spoonbills, egrets, and wood storks.

The Everglades is also known for its plant life. The diversity of Everglades’ habitats means there’s also a great diversity of plants. There are wetland plants from sawgrass and bladderwort to cypress and mangrove trees. There are pine trees, hardwoods, and even beautiful orchids. The Everglades is comprised of more than 100 marsh species that live in water all or much of the year. Floating aquatic plants that dominate the waterscape include bladderwort, white water lily, spatterdock, and maiden cane. Living among these is one of the tiniest members of the Everglades plant community, periphyton algae.

More than 350 bird species can be found in Everglades National Park alone. The Everglades is known for its many wading birds, such as white and glossy ibises, roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons and wood storks, but it also hosts huge numbers of smaller migratory birds. Some species, such as the snail kite, wood stork, and Cape Sable seaside sparrow have become endangered species.

Home too many reptiles, both alligators, and crocodiles live in the Everglades and are sometimes mistaken for each other. Reptiles and amphibians are animals whose body temperature changes with their surroundings. American alligators like deep, freshwater channels of water called sloughs and wet prairie, where they dig out ponds for nesting. The American crocodile lives in the coastal mangroves and Florida Bay. Everglades National Park has 27 different kinds of snakes alone, sixteen turtles, and several lizards.

The Everglades’ most endangered animal, a mammal, is the Florida panther, of which about 80 now survive. The Florida panther is one of 30 Puma concolor subspecies known by many names – puma, cougar, mountain lion, painter, catamount, and panther. They are solitary and territorial animals that travel hundreds of miles within their home range. Panthers are usually quiet, but they do communicate through vocalizations. Other well-known Everglades mammals are water-dwellers–the West Indian manatee, which is also endangered, and the bottlenose dolphin.

See all of this wildlife on our Everglades Airboat!

Burmese Pythons are typically found in Asia along the southern part of the continent. These amazing creatures are known for growing up to 19 feet long and squeezing their prey to death. Over the past few years though, Burmese pythons have begun to appear in the Florida Everglades and Everglades Weston. Not even the Burmese Pythons could resist the tropical temperature and the greenery of Florida.

There was a series of studies conducted as to how or why Burmese pythons were slowly but surely taking over Everglades Weston. Some may say that having such a marvelous species call the Everglades their home has affected the national parks food chain. As any native to the Everglades will tell you, the population of rabbits in the Everglades has decreased and studies believe it is because of this remarkable snake species. Consequently, some have begun to question, “Have these pythons taken a toll on the ecological balance in the Glades?”

The Burmese python can go months without eating and can disappear at will.

Some believe that these Burmese pythons arrived to the Everglades after hurricane Andrew hit. One thing we must mention though, although this particular snake is huge in size and intimidating to say the least, these snakes possess very little threat to us humans. Majority of scientists will agree that a Burmese Python will never attack unless provoked.

You would think that because Burmese Pythons have spread out throughout the Everglades that they would be easy to spot. But that is not the case at all. These marvelous creatures are actually hard t find, making it difficult for those who are against their existence in Everglades Weston to hunt them down.

• Crocodiles favor and adapts to living in salt water while an alligator favors fresh water.

• In general terms, Crocodiles have a lighter skin tone than the appearance of an alligator’s skin.

Now that you know how these animals differ do you think you would be successful in telling them apart if you were to spot one? Next time you vist the Everglades or the local zoo, try to take notes and see which is which.

During many occasions on our Everglades Airboat Tours Ft Lauderdale, we have witnessed how the great majority of people confuse an alligator for a crocodile or vice versa. We tend to confuse the two because they are both known for their scaly skin and scary teeth. The funny thing about it is, the great number of us have committed that same mistake, thinking that both these beautiful creatures are the same when in reality they aren’t. So, what is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? Let’s find out!

• Although they are remotely similar, they begin to differ in small things like their nose shape. Alligators for one have a snout that is shaped in a “U” form. While on the other hand, a crocodile has a sharp, pointy-like “V” shaped nose.

• Their jaws are actually a lot different as well. For alligators, their upper jaw is a lot longer and wider than their bottom jaw, making it overlap and hide their fierce teeth. A crocodile has a jaw the same size both for upper and lower, making their teeth interlock and become visible.

• Some crocodile species are far way more aggressive than that of an alligator. Alligators are believed to be more docile than a crocodile. But in reality, the behavior of each species varies.

• They both come from a different family, which is why they are very different if you pay close attention to their appearance and behavior.

• Crocodiles favor and adapt to living in salt water while an alligator favors fresh water.

• In general terms, Crocodiles have a lighter skin tone than the appearance of an alligator’s skin.

Now that you know how these animals differ do you think you would be successful in telling them apart if you were to spot one? Next time you visit the Everglades or the local zoo, try to take notes and see which is which.