The Florida softshell is the largest of the New World softshell turtles (which are all believed to have originated in the Old World) and has the most Old World characteristics such as: relatively large size, tolerance for brackish water, and longitudinally wrinkled carapace. The young Florida softshell is olive-yellowish in color with large gray spots, yellow and orange markings on the head, and a yellowish border around the carapace. These juvenile markings are mostly lost with age. Adults are brown-gray sometimes showing traces of the juvenile markings. The plastron of the juveniles is a slate-gray.
Ten Facts about Florida Softshell
- Females reaching almost 24 inches in length; males tend to be half that size, approximately 12 inches.
- The Florida softshell is likely to be found in large sinkhole ponds, large lakes (such as Okeechobee), and large karst springs and their slow-flowing, vegetation-choked river channels.
- Florida softshells are found throughout the Florida Peninsula and northward through the coastal plain regions of Georgia and southern South Carolina.
- They are highly carnivorous, consuming fish, frogs, amphibians, insects, duck hatchlings and crustaceans.
- In captivity they have been known to live up to 30 years old.
- Nesting occurs from early March to July. Nests are cavities dug in sand and earthen banks.
- Clutches may consist of 17 to 22 eggs, which are oval and about one inch (2.54 cm) in diameter.
- Hatchlings are about 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) long.
- They can bypass lung breathing by taking in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide through a membrane that lines the throat, creating a direct gas exchange within the water.
- They belong to the family of Trionychidae.
