Florida Softshell Turtle
Apalone ferox
Also known as: Florida Softshell · Florida Soft-shelled Turtle
Reptilia
UNCOMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 20-30 yrs
- Size
- Large
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Activity
- Cathemeral
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Freshwater wetland
- Range
- North America
- Movement
- Swimming
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Burrowing
- Status
- Uncommon
About
The Florida softshell turtle has a flattened, leathery pancake-like shell instead of hard scutes, and a long tubular snout that works like a snorkel, letting it breathe while staying almost fully buried in mud at the bottom of a pond. It is one of the largest softshell species in North America and can deliver a surprisingly powerful bite if handled.
Life cycle
- 1.hatchlingA coin-sized hatchling digs out of the nest and makes its own way to water or shelter.
- 2.juvenileA juvenile turtle's shell hardens and grows yearly rings as it forages on its own.
- 3.adultFully grown with adult shell size and markings.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Testudines
- Family
- Trionychidae
- Genus
- Apalone
- Species
- Apalone ferox