florida softshell turtle

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Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) Royalty Free Stock Photo

The Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of softshelled turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. The Florida Softshell typically has a dark brown to olive green, leathery carapace with a white or cream colored underside, which provides the turtle with effective protection from some predators. They have a long neck, an elongated head, with a long snorkel-like nose. Juveniles have dark blotching, which fades as they age.