Florida softshell turtle

Florida softshell turtle
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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[2]
Testudo ferox Schneider, 1783 Testudo mollis Lacépède, 1788 Testudo bartrami Daudin, 1801 Emydes ferox – Brongniart, 1805 Chelys bartramii Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 (ex errore) Trionyx carinatus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx georgianus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx georgicus Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1809 Trionyx brongniarti Schweigger, 1812 Trionyx ferox – Schweigger, 1812 Amyda ferox – Oken, 1816 Trionix ferox – Gray, 1825 Aspidonectes carinatus – Wagler, 1830 Aspidonectes ferox – Wagler, 1830 Trionyx bartrami – LeConte, 1830 Testudo brongniartii Gray, 1831 (ex errore) Mesodeca bartrami – Rafinesque, 1832 Testudo bartramii – A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Trionyx brongnartii A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835 (ex errore) Trionyx harlani Bell, 1835 Platypeltis ferox – Fitzinger, 1843 Aspenodectes ferox – LeConte, 1854 Platypeltis brongnartii – O.P. Hay, 1903 Platypeltis erox O.P. Hay, 1903 (ex errore) Amyda ferox ferox – Neill, 1951 Trionyx ferox ferox – Schmidt, 1953 Apalone ferox – Meylan, 1987 Trionix feroz Richard, 1999 (ex errore)

Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) close up

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.^[3]

Close-up

Description

The Florida softshell turtle typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace with a white or cream-colored underside,^[4] which visually conceals young turtles from potential predators.^[5] It has a long neck and an elongated head with a long snorkel-like nose. It is the largest soft-shell turtle in North America, reaching about 15–76 cm (5.9–29.9 in) in length.^[4] The female is larger, with the average male reaching only about 35 cm (14 in). The female can weigh up to 20 kg (44 lb), with the record weight documented at 43.5 kg (96 lb).^[1] The juvenile is olive-yellow with grey spots and yellow lines. There are also yellow and orange markings on the head and the plastron is gray. The markings disappear or fade as it ages.^[4]

Behavior

The turtle is almost entirely aquatic, only emerging from the water to bask or to lay eggs.^[4] It prefers the still waters of ponds, streams, lakes, and swamps. Like all soft-shells it is very fast-moving in water and on land.^[4] This species is carnivorous, consuming fish, insects, crustaceans, and molluscs. It may also scavenge.^[1]

Ecology

Alligators have been known to prey on the adult turtle. Raptors may take juveniles. Nest predators include the Fish Crow, foxes, raccoons, and skunks.^[1]

References

External links

• Apalone ferox, The Reptile Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apalone ferox.

Turtle family Trionychidae Genus Species of the subfamily Cyclanorbinae Cyclanorbis Nubian flapshell turtle Senegal flapshell turtle Cycloderma Aubry's flapshell turtle Zambezi flapshell turtle Lissemys Burmese flapshell turtle Indian flapshell turtle Sri Lankan flapshell turtle   Species of the subfamily Trionychinae Amyda Asiatic softshell turtle Apalone Florida softshell turtle Smooth softshell turtle Spiny softshell turtle Chitra Asian narrow-headed softshell turtle Burmese narrow-headed softshell turtle Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle Dogania Malayan softshell turtle Nilssonia Black softshell turtle Burmese peacock softshell Indian softshell turtle Indian peacock softshell turtle Leith's softshell turtle Palea Wattle-necked softshell turtle Pelochelys Cantor's giant softshell turtle New Guinea giant softshell turtle Northern New Guinea giant softshell turtle Pelodiscus Chinese softshell turtle Hunan softshell turtle Lesser Chinese softshell turtle Northern Chinese softshell turtle Rafetus Euphrates softshell turtle Yangtze giant softshell turtle Trionyx African softshell turtle Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2011 update: annotated checklist.