The Mahogany Hammock habitat is found in many places within Florida's Everglades National Park. They are one of several kinds of tropical hardwood hammocks, having the typical teardrop shape and consisting primarily of hardwood, broadleaf trees. These tropical trees sit on slightly elevated patches of ground that are maintained by balanced water levels and activity of fire. Though the hammocks are generally resistant to fire because of the vegetation that grows there, fire serves a prevention for the tree islands to spread too far into the surrounding wetlands and open area.

Mahogany hammocks are developed through the action of flood waters as they rise and fall throughout the year. The higher content of hard rock within their soil allows them to keep from becoming like the wet or swampland that surrounds them. As long as seasonal flooding does not come to a very high level, the hammocks can remain intact. Ironically, the decomposition of vegetation from the hammock is the primary force responsible for the immediate surroundings. The hammock vegetation releases certain acids when it dies, which leads to the erosion of surrounding limestone. The watery moat that results serves as a habitat for numerous aquatic species as well as functioning as a fire break to protect the hammock from destruction.

Trees characteristic of this hammock, other than the predominant mahogany, include pigeon plum, poisonwood. Dispersed within much of the forest were strangler figs that had attached to some of the other species there. All these trees added to the overall density of the hammock, causing a great deal of shade, and with it, a cooler temperature than that of the surrounding marsh.

Understory foliage of the mahogany hammock was not extremely dense, but is definately present in significant quantities. Much of the understory is found on the surface of windthrows, typically knocked down by hurricanes, which through time have become nurse logs. We found at least two fern species that grew within the hammock, most along the ground, but others growing right on the log themselves.

The diversity of living things within the mahogany hammock extend to animal life as well. Numerous insects play various roles, including multiple species of dragonflies, damselflies, and mosquitos (Though if you ask me, the only beneficial role played by the mosquitoes is providing meals for other creatures-certainly no other inherent value!). Spiders were everywhere; orbweavers made up a majority of those. One of the more interesting varieties of spiders was a , which is known for its unique web structure. We also discovered two 5-Lined Skinks. Many other creatures make their homes within the hammock.