List of 20 Florida Animals with Interesting Facts

Florida is one of the most wildlife-rich states in the United States. Thanks to its warm climate, wetlands, forests, and long coastline, Florida is home to many unique animals found nowhere else in the country. For English learners, Florida animals are a great topic to practice animal names, habitats, and descriptive vocabulary in a real-world context.

In this lesson, you’ll explore common animals in Florida, grouped by type, with simple explanations and example sentences.

Florida Animals

Common Florida Wildlife

Pelican
White-tailed deer
Florida manatee
Alligator
Cottonmouth snake
Southern copperhead snake
Flamingo
Wild boar

Endangered Florida Wildlife

Florida panther
Key Deer
Lower Keys marsh rabbit
Sea turtle
Great white heron
Miami Blue butterfly
Florida Keys mole skink
West Indian manatee
Florida salt marsh vole
Red wolf
Florida black bear
Bald eagle

Florida Wildlife with Facts

Florida Manatee

The Florida manatee is a relative of the endangered West Indian manatee and is native to Florida. They are often called “sea-cows” as they graze on seagrass and can grow to be around 13 feet long.
Florida manatees can live for around 60 years and have no known enemies, although they are frequently hit and killed by boats due to their liking for the shallow water along the Florida coastline.
The Florida manatee is a gentle animal that lives in warm coastal waters.

Cottonmouth Snakes

Cottonmouth snakes are also commonly known as water moccasins and are usually found in or near water. These are venomous snakes whose bites can kill if no antidote is given in time.
People should be careful when walking in wetlands because cottonmouth snakes may be nearby.

Wild Boars

Wild boars are a problem for farmers in Florida as they often kill newborn livestock.
Wild boars can damage farms and gardens when looking for food.

Florida Panthers

Florida panthers are considered to be the most endangered of all animals in Florida and there are now only around 200 of them left in existence.
Seeing a Florida panther in the wild is very rare.

Key Deer

Key deer are tiny – females stand at around 26 inches at the shoulder, while males are only slightly bigger at 30 inches high.
Key deer are excellent swimmers and often swim between the islands in the Florida Keys.
Drivers must slow down to protect key deer on island roads.

Alligators

The Florida Everglades is the only place where alligators and crocodiles can be found living alongside each other.
Warning signs remind people not to feed alligators.

Alligator

Crocodile

Flamingos

Although it might seem surprising, flamingos are actually considered to be a native species in Florida. They were originally hunted for both food and feathers in the 19^th century until they almost ceased to exist in Florida at all, but have been reintroduced until there is now a healthy population.
Many people associate flamingos with Florida culture and beaches.

Sea Turtles

There are five different species of sea turtle in Florida, and the loggerhead is the most commonly found.
In Florida, it is considered illegal to touch any sea turtles or their eggs.
Sea turtles return to Florida beaches to lay their eggs.

Pelicans

There are two species of pelican found in Florida – the brown pelican and the white. The brown pelican, which is the most common in Florida, has a wingspan of around 7 feet.
A pelican uses its large beak to catch fish.

Snakes

Florida is also home to more than fifty different species of snake, many of which are not found anywhere else in the US.
People should stay calm if they see snakes in the wild.