Florida Softshell Turtle

Apalone ferox

The Florida Softshell Turtle is a unique turtle with a soft, leathery shell instead of a hard one. They are great swimmers and love to bask in the sun on warm days.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Florida Softshell Turtle has a remarkably flat, leathery, olive-brown to dark green-grey shell, not hard like typical turtles. Its long, snorkel-like snout and fully webbed feet make it visually distinct from other freshwater turtles.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseTestudinesOrdenTestudinesFamiliaTrionychidaeGéneroApalone

Florida Softshell Turtle

Categoría

Reptiles

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Female Florida Softshells grow much bigger than the males!

Some can breathe underwater using special lining in their throat!

These turtles can be surprisingly aggressive if they feel threatened!

They often hide completely under sand with only their eyes showing!

Habilidades especiales

Florida Softshell Turtle can swim incredibly fast because of its flat, lightweight shell and strong, webbed feet.

Florida Softshell Turtle can bury itself quickly in mud or sand that helps them ambush prey and hide from predators.

Florida Softshell Turtle has powerful jaws and a sharp beak that helps them easily crush the shells of snails and crayfish.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 15-76 cm
Peso: 0.5-20 kg
Esperanza de vida: 20-30 años
Top Speed: 5 km/h
Velocidad de nado: 24 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 4-38
Incubación: 60-90 días
Profundidad máxima: 10 m

Dieta y alimentación

This opportunistic omnivore munches on fish, insects, crustaceans, frogs, and sometimes plants it finds underwater.

Diferencias por edad: Young turtles eat more insects, while adults have a broader diet that includes more fish and crustaceans.

Alimentos principales

fish
crayfish
aquatic insects
frogs
aquatic plants

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Young turtles are often prey for this large reptile.

eats

Mosquitofish

Gambusia holbrooki

Actively hunts and eats small fish like mosquitofish.

eats

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Crushes the shells of these crustaceans with strong jaws.

eats

Largemouth Bass

Micropterus salmoides

Ambush predator that often catches this common freshwater fish.

Rasgos

Pies palmeados

Se caracteriza por tener los dedos conectados por una membrana, lo que generalmente ayuda a nadar.

Omnívoro

Este rasgo identifica organismos cuya dieta incluye tanto materia vegetal como animal.

Piscívoro

Los organismos piscívoros son animales que subsisten principalmente de una dieta a base de peces.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.