Animals of the Everglades

This passage discusses different types of animals that live in the Florida Everglades.

Lexile Level: 860L

Categories: People & Places Animals & Nature

The Florida Everglades is one of the largest wetlands in the world. Wetlands are swampy areas filled with shallow water and tall grasses. Wetlands act like a sponge and soak up water, which helps keep the land around them from flooding. People cannot build houses in the Everglades, but plenty of birds and animals call it home. If you visit the Everglades National Park, you have a good chance of seeing an alligator. If you are very lucky, you will see a crocodile. How can you tell the difference? Alligators have a wider jaw, or snout, than crocodiles. Crocodiles also have a large tooth that sticks out of their lower jaw. More than three hundred kinds of birds live in the Everglades. Many kinds of snakes, frogs, and turtles also live there. The Florida panther is one of many animals in the Everglades in danger of becoming extinct.