Florida Softshell Turtle

The Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to the Southeastern United States
It is found primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to southern sections of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It is the only species of softshell turtle whose range spans the entire Florida peninsula. Of the three species in the genus Apalone, the Florida softshell turtle occupies the smallest geographic range.
The Florida softshell turtle is a large turtle with a flattened, pancake-like body, a long neck, an elongated head with a long snorkel-like nose, and large webbed feet, each with three claws. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes, the Florida softshell turtle has a cartilaginous carapace covered in leathery skin. Ranging from olive green to dark brown, it has the darkest coloration of all the softshell species that inhabit Florida.
It is the largest species of softshell turtle found in Florida and all of North America, ranging from 5.9 to 29.9 in. in length.] The Florida softshell turtle also exhibits significant sexual size dimorphism. Adult females are often 3-5 times larger than males. Males have a length and body weight averaging about 14 in and 5.9 lb respectively. Nesting adult females were found to average 14.7 lb in weight and measure 16 in. in length, with the record weight documented at 96 lb.

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