# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 16 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Florida Softshell Turtle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Floridasoftshellturtle-cropped.jpg&width=800) Photo: Johnskate17, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Floridasoftshellturtle-cropped.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Trionychidae - **Genus:** Apalone ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Blazing Swimmer:** Florida Softshell Turtle can swim incredibly fast because of its flat, lightweight shell and strong, webbed feet. - **Mud Camouflage:** Florida Softshell Turtle can bury itself quickly in mud or sand that helps them ambush prey and hide from predators. - **Powerful Bite:** Florida Softshell Turtle has powerful jaws and a sharp beak that helps them easily crush the shells of snails and crayfish. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-76 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-20 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Swim Speed:** 24 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-38 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days - **Maximum Depth:** 10 m ## Diet & Feeding This opportunistic omnivore munches on fish, insects, crustaceans, frogs, and sometimes plants it finds underwater. - **Age differences:** Young turtles eat more insects, while adults have a broader diet that includes more fish and crustaceans. - **Primary Foods:** fish, crayfish, aquatic insects, frogs, aquatic plants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Ambush predator that often catches this common freshwater fish. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch or pick up a turtle. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Florida Softshell Turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Florida Softshell Turtle? 15-76 cm ### How much does Florida Softshell Turtle weigh? 0.5-20 kg ### How long does Florida Softshell Turtle live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Florida Softshell Turtle move? 5 km/h ### What does Florida Softshell Turtle eat? This opportunistic omnivore munches on fish, insects, crustaceans, frogs, and sometimes plants it finds underwater. ### How fast can Florida Softshell Turtle swim? 24 km/h ### Where is Florida Softshell Turtle usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Desert Garden Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/desert-garden-conservatory) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Harry P. Leu Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harry-p-leu-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Shark River Slough Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shark-river-slough-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-augustine-town-plan-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Disney's Animal Kingdom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/disneys-animal-kingdom) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see Florida Softshell Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/florida-softshell-turtle) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Florida Softshell Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/florida-softshell-turtle)