Ten species of turtles are been identified in the mangrove area: four are typical of freshwater (striped mud turtle, Kinosternon bauri; chicken turtle, Deirochelys reticularia; Florida red-bellied turtle, Chrysemys nelsoni; Florida softshell, Trionyx ferox), two are found in brackish water (mud turtle, Kinosternon

eastern ribbon snake

subrubrum; ornate diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota and M. terrapin rhizophorarum) and the reminder are found in marine waters (hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata; green turtle, Chelonia mydas; loggerhead, Caretta caretta; Atlantic ridley, Lepidochelys kempii) (Odum et al, 1982). Freshwater species usually occur in the headwater regions of mangrove-lined river systems. All four freshwater species are found in habitats other than mangrove swamps including streams, ponds, and freshwater marshes. The brackish water species are found in salt marshes in addition to mangrove swamps. All four of the marine turtles are associated with mangrove vegetation at some stage of their lives, even if loggerhead and green turtles are much less dependent on mangroves than the remaining two (Odum et al, 1982).

Three species in the genus Anolis have been reported from Florida mangroves: green anole (Anolis carolinensis), Cuban brown anole (Anolis sagrei) and Bahaman bank anole (Anolis distichus). All are arboreal lizards that feed on insects (Odum et al, 1982).

Of the six species of snakes listed, the mangrove water snake (Nerodia fasciata compressicauda) is most dependent upon mangrove habitat. Two important species of reptiles found in mangrove swamps are the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). The alligator is found only in low salinity sections of Florida mangrove areas wile for the American crocodile mangroves appear to be a critical habitats for the important role they play for the breeding biology of this endangered species (Odum et al., 1982).

Only three species of amphibians have been recorded in Florida mangrove swamps giant toad (Bufo marinus), squirrel treefrog (Hyla squirella) and Cuban treefrog (Hyla septentrionalis) (Odum et al., 1982).