Examine individual changes

'{{Taxobox | image = Floridasoftshellturtle-cropped.jpg | status = LC | status_system = iucn3.1 | status_ref=<ref name="redlist">[http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/165597/0 Apalone ferox] from the IUCN Red list</ref> | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]] | ordo = [[Testudines]] | subordo = [[Cryptodira]] | familia = [[Trionychidae]] | genus = ''[[Apalone]]'' | species = '''''A. ferox''''' | binomial = ''Apalone ferox'' | binomial_authority = ([[Johann Gottlob Schneider|Schneider]], 1783) <!--| synonyms = ''Testudo ferox'' [[Johann Gottlob Schneider|Schneider]], 1783<br>''Testudo mollis'' [[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1788<br>''Testudo ferox verrucosa'' [[Johann David Schoepf|Schoepff]], 1795<br>''Testudo bartrami'' [[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1802<br>''Trionyx carinatus'' [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]], 1809<br>''Trionyx georgianus'' [[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]], 1809<br>''Trionyx ferox'' - [[August Friedrich Schweigger|Schweigger]], 1812<br>''Trionyx brogniarti'' [[August Friedrich Schweigger|Schweigger]], 1812<br>''Aspidonectes ferox'' - [[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1830<br>''Aspidonectes carinatus'' - [[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1830<br>''Trionyx harlani'' [[Thomas Bell (zoologist)|Bell]], 1835<br>''Platypeltis ferox'' - [[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1843<br>''Amyda ferox'' - Allen, 1932<br>''Apalone ferox'' - Meylan, 1987 <ref>The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>--> | synonyms = * ''Testudo ferox'' <small>Schneider, 1783</small> * ''Testudo mollis'' <small>[[Bernard Germain de Lacépède|Lacépède]], 1788</small> * ''Testudo bartrami'' <small>[[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], 1801</small> * ''Emydes ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[Alexandre Brongniart|Brongniart]], 1805</small> * ''Chelys bartramii'' <small>[[Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire|Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire]], 1809</small> ''([[ex errore]])'' * ''Trionyx carinatus'' <small>Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809</small> * ''Trionyx georgianus'' <small>Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809</small> * ''Trionyx georgicus'' <small>Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809</small> * ''Trionyx brongniarti'' <small>[[August Friedrich Schweigger|Schweigger]], 1812</small> * ''Trionyx ferox'' <small>&ndash; Schweigger, 1812</small> * ''Amyda ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[Lorenz Oken|Oken]], 1816</small> * ''Trionix ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[John Edward Gray|Gray]], 1825</small> * ''Aspidonectes carinatus'' <small>&ndash; [[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], 1830</small> * ''Aspidonectes ferox'' <small>&ndash; Wagler, 1830</small> * ''Trionyx bartrami'' <small>&ndash; [[John Eatton LeConte|LeConte]], 1830</small> * ''Testudo brongniartii'' <small>Gray, 1831</small> ''(ex errore)'' * ''Mesodeca bartrami'' <small>&ndash; [[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1832</small> * ''Testudo bartramii'' <small>&ndash; [[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]] & [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1835</small> * ''Trionyx brongnartii'' <small>A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835</small> ''(ex errore)'' * ''Trionyx harlani'' <small>[[Thomas Bell (zoologist)|Bell]], 1835</small> * ''Platypeltis ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[Leopold Fitzinger|Fitzinger]], 1843</small> * ''Aspenodectes ferox'' <small>&ndash; LeConte, 1854</small> * ''Platypeltis brongnartii'' <small>&ndash; [[Oliver Perry Hay|O.P. Hay]], 1903</small> * ''Platypeltis erox'' <small>O.P. Hay, 1903</small> ''(ex errore)'' * ''Amyda ferox ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[Wilfred T. Neill|Neill]], 1951</small> * ''Trionyx ferox ferox'' <small>&ndash; [[Karl Patterson Schmidt|Schmidt]], 1953</small> * ''Apalone ferox'' <small>&ndash; Meylan, 1987</small> * ''Trionix feroz'' <small>Richard, 1999</small> ''(ex errore)'' | synonyms_ref=<ref name="Fritz 2007">{{Cite journal | journal = Vertebrate Zoology | title = Checklist of Chelonians of the World | year = 2007 | author = Fritz, Uwe | coauthors = Peter Havaš | volume = 57 | issue = 2 | pages = 305–306 | id = ISSN 18640-5755 | url = http://www.cnah.org/pdf_files/851.pdf | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5v20ztMND | archivedate = 2010-12-17|accessdate = 29 May 2012 }}</ref> }} The '''Florida softshell turtle''' (''Apalone ferox'') is a [[species]] of [[Trionychidae|softshell]] [[turtle]] native to the southeastern [[United States]], and is one of the fastest turtles to move on land. ==Geographic range== It is found primarily in the state of [[Florida]], but it also ranges to southern sections of [[South Carolina]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Alabama]], .<ref>[http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=1273 Apalone ferox (Schneider, 1783)] (includes a map)</ref>and also in Pampanga kiss my ass ==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 (biology)|range]], but they are not known to have established outside of their native [[habitat (ecology)|habitat]].<ref name=turtle>[http://www.erdingtonaquatics.com/turtle.html www.erdingtonaquatics.com ''turtle'']</ref> ==Taxonomy== This species was formerly in the genus ''Trionyx''.<ref>[http://www.chelonia.org/Turtle_Taxonomy.htm Chelonia.org]</ref> == Description == The Florida softshell turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery [[carapace]] with a white or cream colored underside,<ref name=apalone/> which provides the turtle with effective protection from some [[predator]]s.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/6838752/Heron-tries-to-swallow-turtle-for-dinner.html Heron tries to swallow turtle for dinner: A heron tried to swallow a turtle for its dinner but was left frustrated as it could not pierce its shell to kill it]. [[Daily Telegraph]], 18 Dec 2009</ref> They have a long neck, an elongated head, with a long [[Snorkel (swimming)|snorkel]]-like nose. Juveniles have dark blotching, which fades as they age. On some occasions,Florida softshell turtles can sprint quickly back into a pond or lake to get away from danger. They grow to a large size, ranging from {{convert|15|-|76|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length. They are the largest of all the species in the genus ''[[Apalone]]'' and the largest soft-shell turtles in North America. Females are larger with males only reaching about {{convert|35|cm|in|abbr=on}}. A male of this species weighed {{convert|4.77|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, whereas females can typically range up to {{convert|20|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/165597/0]</ref><ref name= jstor>[http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1448157?uid=3739864&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=55983034323]</ref> Exceptionally, females can tip the scales at as much as {{convert|43.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name= jstor/> 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.<ref name=apalone>[http://www.tortoise.org/archives/apalone.html www.tortoise.org ''apalone'']</ref> == Behavior == [[File:Soft-Shelled Turtle.JPG|thumb|left|Close-up of head]] Florida softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic, generally only emerging from the water to bask or to lay their [[egg (biology)|eggs]].<ref name=apalone/> 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.<ref name=turtle/> Like all soft-shells they are very fast in water and on land.<ref name=apalone/> 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== {{Reflist}} *{{EMBL genus|genus=Apalone|species=ferox}} *[http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?SpeciesID=1273 USGS: ''Apalone ferox''] ==Life in Captivity== Apalone Ferox should only be kept in an aquarium if it is a male and not one of the larger males at that. The aquarium for a male should be no less than 75 gallons but 90 gallons or more is what should actually be used. Females grow so large that they are kept in ponds outdoors as pets. The water in the aquarium should be kept between 73 to 80 degrees. These turtles thrive in as deep of water as you can give them. Also the water has to be extremely clean. A four stage reaction filter with a UV light is required to keep the water up to par. water should be changed every week and once a month the filter changed and cleaned. A basking area is also necessary. The temperature of the basking area should be kept at an exact 8 to 10 degrees warmer than the water. The turtle in an aquarium should have UVA bulb for heat in basking area, and UVB for necessary nutrition because there bodies need lots of calcium and they can not process calcium without a UVB bulb. They also need to be provided with a shallow water area and sand where they can burrow under the sand under water and still be able to stick there head up for air. The aquarium should provide a large variety of temperatures so the reptile can move around and control his own body temperature. {{commons category|Apalone ferox}} {{Trionychidae}} [[Category:Apalone]] [[Category:Fauna of the United States|Turtle, Florida Softshell]] [[Category:Fauna of the Southeastern United States|Turtle, Florida Softshell]] [[Category:Animals described in 1783]] [[de:Florida-Weichschildkröte]] [[es:Apalone ferox]] [[eu:Apalone ferox]] [[fr:Apalone ferox]] [[it:Apalone ferox]] [[nl:Woeste drieklauw]] [[ja:フロリダスッポン]] [[pnb:فلوریڈا نرم کھل کھچوپڑا]] [[pl:Żółwiak drapieżny]] [[pt:Apalone ferox]] [[sk:Kožnatka floridská]] [[sv:Apalone ferox]] [[uk:Американський трионікс злий]] [[zh:珍珠鱉]]'