Lionfish haven't always had a presence in Florida, as their native region is the Indo-Pacific, but experts believe that when a lionfish was released from an aquarium into the wild in the late '80s, things started spiraling out of control. Whazzup? In both size and appearance, this elusive humanoid is Florida’s equivalent to Bigfoot. Latin Name: Centrolenidae. Kangaroo leads Florida … The spectacled caiman’s diet can accommodate just about anything, and their appetite is just as enthusiastic, making them problematic for native vertebrate and fish populations. First introduced to Florida by riding on shipping containers from the Caribbean, the Cuban tree frog is becoming a veteran invader. Wild pigs are the single most destructive invasive animal species in America, costing millions in property damage yearly. Because they aren’t a natural part of the ecosystem, they’re easily able to predate unwitting birds –perhaps as many as 8 million a year, with a single cat able to take down 100 in a year. This bizarre creature is an import to Florida in the past decade. Some of these animals are wreaking havoc on delicate ecosystems around the state. Peacocks may be gorgeous, regal birds, but they're also royal pains in the butt. Listen to Dr. Hardy’s introduction. Either way, there's little anyone can do to stop them. Not Many People Realize That These 15 Things Are Actually Illegal In Florida. These are some of … Invasive animals in Florida run amok because no one is there to stop them. Lionfish haven't always had a presence in Florida, as their native region is the Indo-Pacific, but experts believe that when a lionfish was released from an aquarium into the wild in the late '80s, things started spiraling out of control. 01:56. can the deadly frog mucus kill the Burmese phython? The Sunshine State has a reputation for being a little weird. This parasitic burrows into humans and causes painful headaches, vomiting, and a stiff neck. As of January 2016, an estimated 200 rhesus monkeys live in Silver Springs Park, Florida. Wikimedia Commons Florida is a state full of weird animals, and the black spiny tailed iguana—an invasive from Central America—is one of the weirder, and more destructive ones. Subscribe to Weird Florida News via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. As if sweating in full humidity wasn't annoying enough, lots of problem animals in Florida cause a whole lot of grief for residents. Caimans, endemic to South and Central America, aren’t nearly as large as their North American counterparts, only reaching about 6 feet long. Unfortunately for Florida residents, giant snakes aren’t the only foreign creatures being set loose around their fair state, and many are even more dangerous. Taking on these horrifying hogs is by no means an easy task, seeing as they do most of their work at night. List of mammals of Florida Chiroptera. Animal News Florida panthers and bobcats are walking weird. This bright blue fish can be found in shallow water in the tropical and subtropical … the Cat Gull. Multiple specimens, including a pregnant female and two young hatchlings, indicate that the pythons not only been breeding, but they’re settling in for the long haul. A biologist told Garrahan the animal was an opossum, but others had their own ideas, including a coyote, a dog, the skin of an alligator, a dead otter or even a chupacabra. For the most part, peacocks are protected. Florida scientists think that the pythons will eat just about anything warm-blooded, provided that it can fit in its mouth … meaning, it’s not so hard to imagine a 20-foot constrictor preying on alligators, deer, household pets, and maybe even children. The destruction they cause has been sufficient enough to get the federal government involved, conducting dog hunts and providing cash rewards for killed pigs. I don’t have the gear to kill one but they don’t move often so we inform the local dive shops and within a day or two they’re killed by somebody. https://www.toptenz.net/top-10-weirdest-invasive-species-in-florida.php In Brazil, they’re used to control rat populations, and sport some large, nasty claws to help do the job. … This nightmarish snail, which looks like something out of a horrific sci-fi film, is terrorizing south Florida residents. Their ability to tolerate both salt water and fresh water makes them able to thrive in all kinds of marine and wetland areas, especially in the rich Florida Everglades, where they were released in the 1960’s. Nichols believes that lionfish are eating each other because there simply aren't enough crustaceans around to satisfy their hunger. There's just something about Florida's sticky, hot weather that makes it the perfect breeding ground for escaped animals on the loose and non-native predators. A look at the happenings and goings-on in and around America's wang. Where I dive in Florida we see lion fish once in a while. In an interview with. Fisherman Gary Nichols told, Currently, experts can't figure out what to do about the problem, and one marine researcher thinks the issue is too far gone. However, as any cat owner will tell you, they will hunt and kill mice and birds even if they’re well-fed. Despite their beauty, these birds are large and ridiculously noisy. Email Address Only a handful of tegus have been spotted in the wild, and usually in heavily frequented nature preserves. Liked it? The frogs can also be found in the toilet, where they usually end up after sneaking in through a house’s ventilation or plumbing systems. In the worst cases, it can transmit meningitis to humans. Actively breeding species have been found breeding as far north as Palm Beach. While you'll have more luck outrunning a snail than you would an alligator, these guys have some wormy friends, and their friends are packing. To match their bad attitude, they’ve got a mouth full of sharp teeth, large claws, and a massive tail that they use like a whip. Florida has some strange criminals, so it only seems fitting that we would have some strange old laws on the books. On top of that, they can grow to be 300 pounds, and frequently outsmart trappers and hunters alike. Habitat: Tropical rainforests. If a school of catfish wandering around on the street after a stormy night isn’t unnerving, we’re not sure what is. Either way, there's little anyone can do to stop them. Follow Florida Man stories and other funny and interesting articles involving crime and odd sights. These 13 Weird Places In Florida Are As Strange As It Gets. So, perhaps the lionfish will kill off most of the other fish around them or maybe they'll kill off each other. Tooey released these monkeys on a small man-made island, from which they ventured into Florida and started rapidly reproducing. Many of the peacocks in the wild were once pets that grew too big or escaped from zoos and farms. Cities like Portland, Oakland, Austin and scores of other places urge their constituents to “keep the city weird.” In Florida there’s no need. A ll bird sounds on this page are taken from the audio cassette tape “Sounds of Florida’s Birds,” copyright 1998, by J. W. Hardy, curator emeritus in ornithology and bioacoustics at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Since colonizing the area, they’ve been terrorizing the ecosystem — lionfish feed primarily (and voraciously) on small herbivorous fish (slashing their survival chances by 80%) and researchers fear that, without them, seaweed will overwhelm many reefs. They aren’t confined to the farmlands of the South as previously thought, either — they’re terrorizing urban Florida neighborhoods, digging up gardens, lawns, and the like at night in search of food. Frolicking pandas, horses and dogs: Videos of animals playing in the snow. Manatees depend on the warmth of Florida's waters for Florida’s reigning top crocodilian predator is the American alligator, which reaches 15-20 feet long. Top 10 Overpriced Celebrities You Can Book Right Now, Top 10 NBA Players Who Never Went To College, These Weapons Changed the Way War is Fought, These Maps Will Change How You See the World, 10 Awesome Greek Gods You’ve Never Heard Of, Weapons That Changed the Way War is Fought, Josip Broz ‘Tito’ Biography: Too Tough for Stalin, Adrian Carton de Wiart Biography: The Unbreakable Soldier. They also compete with native predators and spread diseases, while preying on bird feeders for food, and even defecating in residents’ gardens. Such as …. Duo stole golf cart from nudist resort for McDonald's run, Pasco deputies say. In fact, one woman in Hawaii became so enraged with their constant squawking that she. The tegu’s penchant for native gopher-tortoise eggs is particularly worrisome, since the already-threatened species faces other obstacles like construction bulldozers. walk. Thus, populations have been growing at an overwhelming speed with no end in sight. Experts have ruled out "numerous diseases and … We all know there’s good weird and bad weird, so we like to focus on the good. Unfortunately, there just aren't enough tiny fish to feed them, so they're turning to cannibalism. So, perhaps the lionfish will kill off most of the other fish around them or maybe they'll kill off each other. Size: Length: 0.78 to 3 in. 59. One look at this brown fish with a large head and enormous jaw , and all you see is a mouth full of long, jagged teeth. the Eagle Squirrel. Despite their annoyance, most residents try to live peacefully with them because, at the very least, they're nice to look at. Fisherman Gary Nichols told National Geographic that he has only seen this trait in small invertebrates like shrimp, which were caught in his lobster traps. The recent spread of lionfish leads researchers to believe that these brilliant exotic fish could truly decimate the local ecosystem. They are notoriously ill-tempered animals and aren’t afraid to mess with people, even entering homes through doggie doors. Pets and animals get weird and we're all about it. Of the bats listed below, thirteen are confirmed to be … Check out all the Florida animals that are unrestrained to do as they please in the list below. Unsurprisingly, they hold a powerful allure with Florida’s exotic pet fanatics, but their immense size means they’re incredibly hard to care for. USGS biologists collected tissue samples from a bunch of these squishy suckers and found out that they carry the rat lungworm parasite. That’s right; one of the most destructive forces on Florida soil is the feral cat. At night, it’s not uncommon to see them hanging from windows and walls snagging insects … and defecating everywhere, including those same windows and walls. Peacocks simply aren't meant for suburban life. We need to learn from this example and not let it happen again." The tegu is a hefty, 4-foot long lizard from South America. TRAINED PIGEONS CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PAINTINGS OF PABLO PICASSO … Once a year, thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. And if it isn’t fatal, the toxin causes a clinical condition called Giant Toad Poisoning; symptoms include drooling, crying, coordination loss, and even convulsions. Alligators run the land and chew on severed limbs, peacocks peck the paint off of people's cars, and monkeys give everybody herpes. While you'll have more luck outrunning a snail than you would an alligator, these guys have some wormy friends, and their friends are packing. Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. These spiky-finned little guys are natural predators and typically feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. Discover 272 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Florida from Dry Tortugas to Gypsy Gold Horse Farm . Hi Amanda! In an interview with National Geographic, Matthew Johnson admitted, "It is way too late to do anything about it. Thank you for stopping by and commenting, it is always appreciated! Strange Creature Trespasses on Couple's Private Property i Deep in the mountains of Tahoe, the Finding Bigfoot team makes some Bigfoot calls and gets a surprising response. When one of the monstrous lizards was spotted in Ocala National Forest, an obvious concern arose for native species in the area. Some fish swim; others, like the walking catfish, prefer to (you guessed it!) Giant African Land Snails. However, their popularity, combined with Florida’s notorious habit of releasing their pets, means they could become a very real threat in the near future. This nightmarish snail, which looks like something out of a horrific sci-fi film, is terrorizing south Florida residents. Florida has become a free-for-all for the crazy animals of the sunshine state. The Cape sundew, native to South Africa, traps insects not with rapid movements or weird pitcher-shaped appendages, but by slowly wrapping its “arms” (its sticky, sap-covered leaves) around its prey. Lionfish lay, Cannibalism is extremely rare for animals. Its docile nature makes it a popular species for exotic pet buffs in Florida, but don’t be fooled: tegus are known for their insatiable omnivorous appetite. Top Videos. Strange Florida Animals. Cannibalism is extremely rare for animals. You may get the chance to photogragh these rare Florida animals. Take a second to support Toptenz.net on Patreon! Currently, experts can't figure out what to do about the problem, and one marine researcher thinks the issue is too far gone. Jun 14, 2013 - Take your camera with you when traveling in Florida. From alligators waddling around the streets to snakes wiping out mammal populations, people in … I agree, some of these names of animals are strange and interesting. If you get the heebie-jeebies just thinking about creepy crawlies, then you’re going to want to try to avoid this one.… South Florida dealt with another FBI tragedy 35 years ago. I had to laugh at some of them! With no known predators, animals like the lionfish have resorted to cannibalism. the Frog Duck. The virus kills a whopping 8% of people who contract it, and anyone who gets a scratch or touches a monkey's bodily fluids is at risk. The major threat that cane toads pose to their new home is that, aside from eating everything they can fit in their mouth, they can severely damage or kill anything that tries to eat them. It’s the … Take your camera with you when traveling in Florida. SKUNK APE If the State of Florida ever selects a mascot to represent all weird things in the state, it would unquestionably be the Skunk Ape. :) aquinby on July 22, 2013: So strange, but interesting! They are very predatory, feeding on all types of native frogs and toads, and even eating pet food. Weird News. Welcome to HubPages! From bobcats to otters, here’s a sampling of the wildlife you might run into in Southwest Florida. The giant lizards are obviously perceived as a threat to families with small children and pets, and with good reason: Nile monitors can reach 10 feet long and sport an appetite for just about anything, flora and fauna alike. From alligators waddling around the streets to snakes wiping out mammal populations, people in the sunshine state definitely have their hands full. Blue Parrotfish. Biographics – History, One Life at a Time. Certainly one of the oddest-looking invasive species closing in on Florida’s shores is the lionfish, a magnificently-colored, predatory reef fish adorned with intricate stripes and venomous barbs at the end of its long, fanlike fins. Since then, it’s been moving north via canals and sewer systems. Here are a few of our favorite weird attractions found throughout Florida. Florida is known for a lot of things—Disney, Universal, Daytona Beach, Miami—but we are also home to an amazingly diverse ecosystem that houses some seriously cool animals. . the Koalaroo. Invasive animals in Florida run amok because no one is there to stop them. As of January 2016, an estimated, That may not seem like a ton of monkeys, but these animals are actually quite a hazard to anyone they come in contact with because they carry the Herpes-B virus. There's just something about Florida's sticky, hot weather that makes it the perfect breeding ground for escaped. The already-exploding population of burmese pythons in Florida has led to an infestation of the Everglades, and the death of thousands of native animal. Top 10 Shockingly Rich Celebrities & Their Net Worth, 10 Types of Communication Closest to a Universal Language. A new invader is arriving on the scene, though: the spectacled caiman. Despite their beauty, these birds are large and ridiculously noisy. ... Man offers $5K reward to recover stolen monkey stuffed animals. African rock pythons are the largest snakes in Africa, reaching 20 feet in length. It’s just what cat’s do. Our newest biography website and YouTube channel. Subsequent releases over the next few decades gave them a good jumping off point to spread all over Florida, and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Nile monitors are thriving in the humid conditions of Florida — the hotter and wetter, the better — and it’s safe to say that, without a new plan of action, they’re not going anywhere. A Florida resident named Kip O'Neill said that she finds around 30 of the birds on her roof at times. Glass Frogs. Most of us don't grasp the variety of animals species that inhabit the Earth today, and some even get surprised as they find out there's an animal they haven't heard of before. It’s native to southeast Asia, but established a presence in Florida in the 1970’s, after being released into the Everglades. Thanks for posting! The virus, Peacocks may be gorgeous, regal birds, but they're also royal pains in the butt. Florida has become a free-for-all for the crazy animals of the sunshine state. Manatees have toenails. Associated Press. Since native Florida predators aren’t adapted to its potent toxins, they have little resistance to the toad’s chemical defense. Native to Africa, Nile monitors can grow larger than the Komodo dragon. 1. The giant African land snail is not to be confused with any meager snail … Many are tempted to try and re-domesticate escaped kitties, to try and spare the local birds and rodents. They peck the paint off of cars and frequently get stuck on people's roofs. Wildlife officials can't figure out why. Did you know all of these things were technically illegal in our state? They feed on animals the size of antelope, and sometimes even crocodiles. Read the latest weird news and bizarre headlines happening in Miami Florida and the nation. ... 51 minutes ago. While these felines might not seem like an “invasive” species at first glace, they certainly aren’t native; even domesticated cats were originally native to areas like Egypt, and were never meant to be incorporated into Florida’s ecosystem. In fact, one woman in Hawaii became so enraged with their constant squawking that she beat one to death with a baseball bat and was arrested for animal cruelty. Normal is boring! However, they might not even be the biggest issue on the agenda. It’s estimated that 60-100 million rogue house cats may be terrorizing the wild, having numerous negative effects on the native biology. From the looks of these arcane laws, Florida Man has been around for a long time. She has also had to get her car repainted twice. They also thrive in residential areas, invading homes in search of shade during the day. Tooey released these monkeys on a small man-made island, from which they ventured into Florida and started rapidly reproducing. the Dogrus. The Florida Everglades have gained a lot of notoriety over the years as an escaped exotic pet haven, as illustrated by problems like the massive Burmese Python. Take a tour of strange animals in South Florida, including anoles, vultures, fire ants, iguanas, frankenfish and many more. And yes, they’re in Florida now. It costs taxpayers an annoying $2,500 a year to relocate the birds, who are sent to farms instead of being killed off like more dangerous invasive species. When a few of them were dumped by their owners in the 1980’s, they weren’t thought much of; however, since 2000, they have been establishing a startling presence across the entire Caribbean. However, they’re very efficient breeders, and can establish a population quickly. The chupacabra actually made its debut on the world’s weird list in 1975 after a series of farm animal killings in Puerto Rica. So, while not necessarily a huge environmental threat, Cuban tree frogs are an enormous nuisance just about everywhere it goes. With no known predators, animals like the lionfish have resorted to cannibalism. Cane toads are enormous, ugly, and poisonous. Florida woman renews marriage vows with Ferris wheel named Bruce. And, as if to add insult to injury, their toxic secretions have been known to kill household pets, if ingested. Pythons are known for their admirable ambition when it comes to eating animals the size of themselves, and African rock pythons are no exception. Their introduction into Florida is the product of a 1955 pet vender malfunction, in which 100 of them were released into a Miami airport. Despite their small size (large females only reach about 6 inches,) they’re outdoing Florida’s two native species of tree frog, and even eating them directly. The humpback anglerfish should not only be on the weird animals list, but also the scary animals list! This process is slow (on the average it takes about 30 minutes) and is probably fairly cruel. Lionfish lay two million eggs a year and have no known predators in Florida waters. Apart from their ability to run near 20 mph on land, they’re also powerful swimmers that can remain submerged for an hour at a time, making it very hard to contain their spread through Florida’s sprawling canal system. Anyone who picks up a snail is at risk. Alligators run the land and chew on severed limbs, peacocks peck the paint off of people's cars, and monkeys give everybody herpes. That may not seem like a ton of monkeys, but these animals are actually quite a hazard to anyone they come in contact with because they carry the Herpes-B virus. Biographics – History, One Life at a Time. Florida is plagued by more than 500 non-native plant and animal species. By the 1970’s, it had already begun establishing itself across southern Florida and, as of 2010, there appear to be healthy breeding populations as far north as Gainsville. #8 Frog looks really happy, but #5 Frog looks like an unhappy politician who’s just about to launch his losing campaign for the office. 58. And occasionally, there are some absolutely bizarre sightings, such as residents walking outside and seeing catfish on the streets, just walking around and enjoying the day. But seriously now - out of 1,367,555 identified non-insect animal species that live on Earth today, how do you expect to know every single one of them? In 1938, a tug boat operator named Colonel Tooey purchased a bunch of rhesus macaques from an exotic wildlife dealer to spice up his jungle boat touring business. Rural villagers came forth with claims that an unidentified creature was killing their animals in the early morning hours by biting their necks. 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