Reptiles were the most commonly consumed non-fish vertebrate prey and were

most frequently consumed by Lake Griffin alligators. The most common reptiles

consumed by alligators were turtles, specifically the stinkpot turtle (.Slillinotheins/

odoratus). Alligators in all the lakes also consumed aquatic snakes and there was

evidence of alligators. None of the alligators consumed in this study were considered

fresh prey items and they were all represented by FWC hatchling tags that had remained

in the stomach for an unknown amount of time. Alligator eggshells were found in two

Lake Griffin alligator samples (one female and one male alligator) and in one Lake

Woodruff alligator sample (female alligator).

 Reptiles, specifically turtles had the potential to be a large prey items and one Lake

Griffin alligator ate a redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni) estimated at 1148 g. Lake

Griffin alligators ate reptiles more frequently and these reptiles totaled 3,755 g or 10% of

the diet (Figure 3-4). Reptiles comprised a smaller portion of alligator diets for Lakes

Apopka (158 g or 1.6% of the diet) and Woodruff (108 or 0.6% of the diet) (Figs. 3-5, 3-

6, respectively). Three gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), a terrestrial species,

were consumed by alligators. Lake Griffin alligators consumed two gopher tortoises

(Table 3-5) and a Lake Apopka alligator consumed one gopher tortoise (Table 3-6).

 Amphibians were not a significant portion of the alligator diets from any lakes, but

large species (e.g., Rana catesbiana, Siren lacertina) had the potential to be a large meal.

Amphibians consumed by the alligators included frogs and aquatics salamanders (sirens

and amphiumas). Lake Griffin alligators consumed the greatest number of amphibian

taxa (3) and the greatest number of amphibian specimens (5) (Table 3-5). The total

amphibian biomass for Lake Griffin alligators was 1,374.4 g or 4% of the diet (Figure 3-