Florida Softshell Turtle

Taxobox
name = Softshell Turtle
status = lc

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Cryptodira
familia = Trionychidae
genus = "Apalone"
species = "A. ferox"
binomial = "Apalone ferox"
binomial_authority = Schneider, 1783
synonyms = "Testudo ferox"
"Testudo mollis"
"Testudo bartrami"
"Trionyx carinatus"
"Trionyx georgianus"
"Trionyx ferox"
"Trionyx brogniarti"
"Trionyx harlani"The Florida Softshell Turtle ("Apalone ferox") is a species of softshell turtle native to the eastern United States, primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. They are widely distributed by the pet industry. Individual specimens have been found released to the wild well outside of their range, but they are not known to have established outside of their native habitat. [http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/turtle.html]

Description

The Florida Softshell Turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace with a white or cream colored underside. They have a long neck, an elongated head, with a long snorkel-like nose. Juveniles have dark blotching, which fades as they age. They grow to a large size, from 6-25 inches (15-63 cm), largest of all the species in the genus "Apalone". The juveniles are olive-yellow with grey spots and a yellow lined carpace. Juveniles also have yellow and orange markings on the head and a gray plastron. These marking disappear as it ages, although adults sometimes show traces of the markings. [http://www.tortoise.org/archives/apalone.html]

Behavior

Florida Softshell Turtles are almost entirely aquatic, generally only emerging from the water to bask or to lay their eggs. [http://www.tortoise.org/archives/apalone.html] They prefer still waters and can be found in ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and swamps.The Florida Softshell Turtle is carnivorous, eating fish, snails, insects, and amphibians. The turtle is usual shy around humans, but when they feel threatened they will bite with their strong jaws. [http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/turtle.html] Like all soft-shells they are very fast in water and on land. [http://www.tortoise.org/archives/apalone.html] In captivity they have been known to live up to 30 years old , although in the wild their lifespans are shorter.

Diet

They are highly canivorous, consuming fish, frogs, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans.

References

*EMBL genus|genus=Apalone|species=ferox
* [http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?SpeciesID=1273 USGS: "Apalone ferox"]