tor’s young. Additionally, pythons do not require water to thrive as do alligators. Many of the pythons ended up in the Florida Everglades by owners who dumped the animals after they got too big to take care of. These snakes can easily weigh in at 200 pounds by the time they are two years old. The Everglades are a perfect environment for these large snakes as they are expert swimmers and the thick underbrush provides great cover for ambush and breeding and they can easily grow to over fifteen feet. They are believed to have been introduced to the area in 1979 by careless owners who acquired them through the pet trade.
Nile monitor. After the Burmese python the Nile monitor is probably the next most threatening animal. It too is an expert swimmer, climber, and hunter with a voracious appetite and very fast on its feet. Imported from Africa by way of the pet trade and first introduced around 1990 the Nile monitor can grow to six feet long. One of their favorite meals is eggs which are laid by alligators, crocodiles, and diamondback terrapins. The American crocodile, an endangered species of the Everglades, is especially at risk, because it is more passive than its cousin that inhabits the same region, the American Alligator, and the Nile monitor can easily wipe out a nest of crocodile eggs. The Nile monitor also stalks fish ponds in backyards and any other small specie including house pets.
Green iguana. The Green iguana came to Florida from Central America in the 1960s by way of the pet trade. While seemingly harmless they are destructive herbivores that cause damage and erosion by burrowing and eating vegetation. They breed quickly and are messy leaving waste everywhere including residential areas. They are also known to damage homes by knocking of roof shingles. They live close to water and can often be seen adjacent to canals where they can expertly escape any perceived threat by swimming.
Lionfish. It was thought that the Lionfish first inhabited the waters of south Florida after Hurricane Andrew in 1992. They are endemic to the Indian and western Pacific Ocean but now they are a relatively common denizen in the waters of Biscayne Bay and expanding in range. Their sharp pointed spikes are poisonous and have been fatal to humans in a few cases. They are predators which feed on small fish, mollusks, and invertebrates. Of course the danger to scuba divers, swimmers, and snorkelers is obvious.
Rhesus monkey. Released in Marion County more than 70 years ago, the rhesus monkey, or macaque, colony thrives in north central Florida in the Silver River region and some have been spotted as far away as Orlando and the Daytona area. The biggest threat the rhesus monkey presents is disease which can be spread to humans. Otherwise they are another competitor in the food chain and threaten native species such as birds because they are expert tree climbers and egg thieves.
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