Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
approach prioritizes species based on documented threats, ecological rarity, and the opportunity to restore or strengthen relationships between the EBCI community and these native animals. The following paragraphs provide information about a few of the reptile species identified by the Taxa Team as SGCN and priority species for research or management, and for which work that has been conducted to implement conservation and management recommendations. Conservation recommendations for the habitats associated with amphibian SGCN have been incorporated into the natural community descriptions in Chapter 4. 3.8.1.1 Crocodiles The American Alligator (or alligator) is a keystone species found in the southeastern United States and the only crocodilian species found in North Carolina, occurring throughout much of the Coastal Plain ecoregion. Alligators are federally protected under the ESA as a threatened species due to its similarity of appearance to the American Crocodile ( Crocodylus acutus ), which is also federally protected as a threatened species. In North Carolina, alligators are protected as a threatened species (Woodward and Elsey 2019, NCWRC 2021) . Alligators are large, semi-aquatic armored reptiles related to crocodiles, but they lack the salt- secreting glands of crocodiles. Their range extends from the Florida Keys northward to the North Carolina coastal plain and westward to southern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas (NatureServe 2025) . They occur in wetlands, lakes, rivers, creeks, marshes, swamps, and ponds in the Coastal Plain ecoregion. They primarily use freshwater but are able to enter waters with higher salinities for short periods of time to forage for food. Climate conditions have a direct effect on growth rates; the cold winters in North Carolina limit their growth, life span, and reproduction. Since sexual maturity is directly related to body size, they are generally around 6 feet long before being able to reproduce. With slower growth rates in North Carolina, males are about 15 years old and females are about 19 years old before sexual maturity. 3.8.1.2 Lizards Currently there are 11 native and three nonnative lizards in North Carolina, with the highest diversity in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain ecoregions. There are two species listed for state protection—one is listed as endangered, and one is listed as special concern. Lizards, in general, have not been the focus of intensive survey, monitoring, or research in North Carolina. Some species appear to be quite common (e.g., Green Anole, Five-lined Skink), while others are very difficult to detect, or occur in apparently low numbers (e.g., Slender Glass Lizard, Mimic Glass Lizard).
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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