Zoology of the ZooPl. CLXXVIII
Florida softshell
Apalone ferox
Reptilia · Testudines · Trionychidae
Fig. 1. Florida softshell
Fig. 2. Range
| Length or height | Females up to about 60 cm; males much smaller |
|---|---|
| Weight | Females up to about 20 kg or more |
| Food | Snails, fish, frogs, insects |
| Lifespan | About 20 years or more (est.) |
| Society | Solitary |
| Habitat | freshwater, wetland |
| Range | North America |
| Wild or tame | Wild |
A flat, leathery shell, a snorkel nose and long neck let it breathe from the bottom of a pond. Softshells also take in oxygen through the skin and the lining of the throat. Common in Manatee County ponds.
Observe: Watch for the snorkel nose poking up from shallow water.