| Florida softshell turtle | |
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| 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) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Testudo ferox Schneider, 1783 |
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The Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of softshell turtle native to the southeastern United States, and is one of the fastest turtles to move on land.
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It is found primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to southern sections of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.[2]
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.[3]
This species was formerly in the genus Trionyx.[4]
The Florida softshell turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace with a white or cream colored underside,[5] which provides the turtle with effective protection from some predators.[6] They have a long neck, an elongated head, with a long 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, 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.[5]
Florida softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic, generally only emerging from the water to bask or to lay their eggs.[5] 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.[3] Like all soft-shells they are very fast in water and on land.[5] In captivity they have been known to live up to 30 years old, although in the wild their lifespans are shorter.
The Florida softshell is highly carnivorous, consuming fish, frogs and other amphibians, insects, duck hatchlings and crustaceans.
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