Florida softshell turtle

Florida softshell turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Genus:	Apalone
Species:	A. ferox
Binomial name
Apalone ferox (Schneider, 1783)
Synonyms
Testudo ferox Schneider, 1783 Testudo mollis Lacépède, 1788 Testudo ferox verrucosa Schoepff, 1795 Testudo bartrami Daudin, 1802 Trionyx carinatus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx georgianus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx ferox - Schweigger, 1812 Trionyx brogniarti Schweigger, 1812 Aspidonectes ferox - Wagler, 1830 Aspidonectes carinatus - Wagler, 1830 Trionyx harlani Bell, 1835 Platypeltis ferox - Fitzinger, 1843 Amyda ferox - Allen, 1932 Apalone ferox - Meylan, 1987

The Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of softshell turtle native to the southeastern United States.

Geographic range

It is found primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to southern sections of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

Introduced outside of range

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.

Taxonomy

This species was formerly in the genus Trionyx.

Description

The Florida softshell turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace with a white or cream colored underside, which provides the turtle with effective protection from some predators. 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 6-30 inches (15-76 cm), largest of all the species in the genus Apalone. Females are larger with males only reaching about 14 inches (35 cm). The juveniles are olive-yellow with grey spots and a yellow lined carapace. 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.

Behavior

Close-up of head

Florida softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic, generally only emerging from the water to bask or to lay their eggs. They prefer still waters and can be found in ponds, streams, rivers, lakes and swamps. These turtles are usually shy around humans, but when they feel threatened they will bite with their strong jaws. Like all soft-shells they are very fast in water and on land. In captivity they have been known to live up to 30 years old, although in the wild their lifespans are shorter.

Diet

The Florida softshell is highly carnivorous, consuming fish, frogs and other amphibians, insects, duck hatchlings and crustaceans.

References

• Genus Apalone at The Reptile Database
• USGS: Apalone ferox