Animals of the Florida Scrub
Take a side track through Floridata's Gallery of Animals of the Florida Scrub and meet some of the critters that have adapted to survive in Florida's harshest habitat.
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Copyright 1997-2001 |
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Animals of the Florida Scrub
Take a side track through Floridata's Gallery of Animals of the Florida Scrub and meet some of the critters that have adapted to survive in Florida's harshest habitat.
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Copyright 1997-2001 |
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Florida
scrub originally existed as "islands" within a
landscape of pine flatwoods, high pine communities and
wetlands. In general, the larger animals move freely into
and out of scrub. Most birds, as well as black bears,
bobcats, raccoons and other mammals visit scrub but can't
be considered strictly scrub animals. There are only a
few vertebrates that are totally restricted to scrub.
Florida's famous scrub jay is probably the most well
known scrub endemic (organism that occurs nowhere else).
There are several species of lizards and snakes that are
practically restricted to Florida scrub. Some of these,
such as the sand-swimming sand skink, and the peninsula
mole skink pictured here, are highly adapted to life in
the scrub. By one count there are at least 40 species of
spiders and insects that are known to be restricted to
Florida scrub. There are probably many more yet to be
discovered. 
