Endangered species are organisms in danger of extinction if factors causing the decrease in their populations or distributions continue. These forms are characterized by critically low populations or by their unique presence in habitats that have been or currently are being reduced in size or degraded in quality. The greatest danger in most cases is not that every individual of a species will be killed, but that population density will decline to a level below which reproduction is adversely affected. This condition ensures the eventual disappearance of a species. As in other areas of the United States, rapid development and extensive habitat manipulation in Florida have been largely responsible for the decline of certain species. In some cases, however, minor modifications to development plans can prevent localized extinction.
The animals shown on this page have been selected from the endangered fauna list issued by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Failure to select a species here should not be interpreted as a statement on its relative importance. This list currently contains over 100 species.
Three fish are considered endangered in Florida: the Okaloosa darter, the blackmouth shiner, and the shortnosed sturgeon. Six reptiles are endangered, including the American crocodile, the Atlantic ridley, and the Atlantic green turtle, whose breeding areas have been severely affected by human development. Of the twenty-one endangered mammals in the state, twelve are endemic to Florida. Nine species of birds in Florida are designated as endangered.
