Do Florida Softshell Turtles Bite
Whenever it feels stressed it can act aggressively.
Do florida softshell turtles bite. The long necks of the softshell turtle mean that it can reach back to bite you. I find that they are one of the few turtle bites that actually do damage and hurt. The florida softshell will readily migrate over land to nearby wetter areas if their wetland dries. It is the largest of the florida softshells reaching a carapace length of 30 inches 2 5 and a mass of 100 pounds.
Popular pets even commonly kept species such as red eared sliders trachemys scripta elegans yellow bellied sliders trachemys scripta scripta and cooters pseudemys ssp may bite if frightened. Soft shell turtle bites hurt a lot. If you are holding a soft shell then don t get your hand or. They do eat fish and occasionally young water birds but no significant effects on prey populations have been reported florida softshell turtles are aggressive and will bite if handled or restrained but are probably harmless to humans if left alone.
Florida softshell turtles are generally harmless to human interests. Highway 27 at lake jackson over the last few years. Most american softshell turtles reach lengths of 5 to 11 inches as adults although the florida softshell is known to reach lengths of 24 inches. Bites from large softshell turtles may be very serious.
Like many turtles females are large than males. I have saved many from sure death on u s. Of all the turtles i do find dead on the highway my heart always aches a little more when i find a dead softshell. Even small softshell turtles can give a painful bite.
The shell of the florida softshell turtle is soft which makes the species vulnerable to the predators. The creature like this 40 pound specimen is the heaviest and bulkiest of all north. In south florida 3600 softshell turtles were purchased for meat between july 1990 and july 1991. While small softshell turtles can t cause much damage bites from large softshell turtles can be very serious.
In short the florida softshell turtle uses its long neck to reach up to the predator and the sharp jaw to attack. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes the florida softshell has a cartilaginous carapace covered in leathery skin. Oh my gosh yes. Why do the florida softshell turtles bite.
Like the japanese sumo wrestler the florida softshell turtle trionix ferox is definitely a heavyweight. 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. These turtles are popular for their meat though some people keep them as pets.
