Myakka River
State Park
Fauna found in Myakka River State Park.
*Please Note: This section of the site is currently under development and does not contain an exhaustive list of the park's wildlife. For complete lists, see the "Animal List" and "Plant List" in the "Wildlife" sub-menu of this site. *
Alligators are found throughout the waters of Myakka River State Park, from the river and lakes to the marshes and roadside ponds.
For further information about alligators in the park, please visit the Alligator FAQ page.
Now common throughout Florida, the brown anole's range is rapidly expanding throughout the south-east US. Very hardy, the brown anole is recognized as a threat to native anole species, such as the Carolina anole.
Photo courtesy Frédéric Trudeau
Native to the south-east US, the green anole is commonly seen in Myakka River State park. The green anole can change colors raning from bright green to brown, earning it the nickname "American Chameleon", though it is not related to true chameleons.
Nine-Banded Armadillos are considered an invasive species in Florida, having been introduced to the state in the early and mid 20th Century. They have also been established in Texas since at least the 1840s, their range having expanded from Mexico and Central America.
Armadillos can be seen throughout the park, usually in the cool hours of the day, when they venture from their burrows to forrage for insects.
Recent research has shown that armadillos can transmit leprocy to humans, though leprocy has not yet been encountered in the species in Florida.
