Florida Turtles With Long Nose
It has a flattened pancake like body a long neck and an elongated head with a long snorkel like nose.
Florida turtles with long nose. Adult common snapping turtles weigh from 10 35 pounds while the alligator snapping turtle can be up to 200 pounds. The gulf coast box turtle ranks as the largest of florida s box turtles sometimes achieving a length of 8 5 inches. 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. Most of these species can be spotted in river and other wetland areas in the panhandle and the northern areas of the state.
The back of its shell distinctively flares upward in gutter like fashion in contrast to the downward angling shell of the eastern box turtle. These reptiles may live for more than 20 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity. Checklist of florida turtles click on thumbnails for a larger view apalone ferox schneider 1783 florida softshell. They have round and long nose that sticks above the water while swimming.
It is probably a florida softshell turtle peering out to look around. Common snapping turtles are freshwater turtles with a long tail and neck and three rows of low carapace keels. The florida softshell turtles are native to the southeastern united states and are found. Non native in florida keys apalone mutica le sueur 1827 smooth softshell apalone mutica calvata webb 1959 gulf coast smooth softshell apalone spinifera le sueur 1827 spiny softshell apalone spinifera aspera agassiz 1857 gulf coast spiny softshell.
A long term management strategy is essential to protect the florida softshell and to ensure that this unique turtle remains a visible and viable part of florida s freshwater ecosystems. It has large webbed feet each with three claws. An extremely long nose and flipper like feet. They spend most of their lives in water rarely appearing on dry land but are surprisingly quick on terra firma when need be.
Florida water turtles most people associate florida turtles with the family emydidae the fresh water turtles. The florida softshell turtle is the largest species of softshell turtle found in all of north america. Feet are webbed and strong ending in sharp claws. The creature like this 40 pound specimen is the heaviest and bulkiest of all north.
The next time you see a strange tubular snout appear from the water lilies be encouraged. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes the florida softshell has a cartilaginous carapace covered in leathery skin. Florida counts thirteen species listed below. Fans of florida turtles need not fret.
