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of all harmless snakes is the indigo, sometimes reaching a length of eight or more feet.

Members of the turtle order range from the land box turtle to the terrapins to the highly aquatic snappers and soft-shelled turtles. Giant Loggerhead turtles leave the sea each summer and lay their eggs on the nearby beaches. The Atlantic hawksbill and the Atlantic ridley are considered endangered species.

The most beautiful form of wildlife is seen in the bird species. In the summer months many tropical birds nest there, such as the white-crowned pigeons, gray kingbirds, egrets, and the graceful swallow-tailed kite. The winter migration brings ducks, coots, and shorebirds, including the majestic white pelican. Waders that skim the waters include the white ibis, glossy ibis, wood ibis, spoonbills and Florida cranes. Rails, grebes, and limpkins inhabit the marches. And in rare moments the Everglades kite and short-tailed hawk can be seen.

A wide assortment of fresh water fish exists such as bass and bream while salt-water types, such as the snook, tarpon, snapper and other abound in the salt-water bays and inlets. The porpoise is numerous, but the much rarer manatee is also present, which reflects the aquatic nature of the Everglades National Park.

Learn more about this author, Norman A. Rubin.
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