3 of Florida’s rarest reptiles added to list of endangered species

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially added three of Florida’s rarest reptiles to the endangered species list. This regulatory move is designed to provide critical protections for the Key ring-necked snake, the rim rock crowned snake, and the Florida Keys mole skink.

These reptiles are noted for their small size and nonvenomous nature. They primarily occupy limestone outcroppings within pine rocklands and rockland hammocks. These specific ecosystems exist only in Florida and the Bahamas, making the survival of these species dependent on the health of these unique environments.

The Key ring-necked snake remains confined to the Florida Keys, while the rim rock crowned snake is found within Miami-Dade County and parts of the Keys. The Florida Keys mole skink, a tan lizard distinguished by a pinkish-red tail, is particularly elusive. Since 2000, it has been documented on only 15 islands in Monroe County. Its limited range makes it highly vulnerable to environmental shifts, prompting federal intervention to manage and protect its habitat.