India, Oct. 29 -- The Nile monitor, a predatory lizard native to sub-Saharan Africa, has been an invasive species in southern Florida since its first reporting in 1990. They are suspected to have entered the area through the pet trade industry and currently pose a danger to marine turtles, wading birds, gopher tortoises, and burrowing owls.

A study published in Southeastern Naturalist documented a reproducing population in the Cape Coral area and warned that the lizards could threaten sea turtles, waterbirds, and burrowing owls as they spread into nearby sensitive habitats. These lizards are able to survive in canals, marshes, and coastal environments because of the presence of water and food sources. This illustrates the effects of intr...