Identification Florida Water Turtles

Florida counts thirteen species listed below.
Identification florida water turtles. Checklist of florida turtles click on thumbnails for a larger view apalone ferox schneider 1783 florida softshell. It is the only species of a softshell turtle whose range spans the entire florida peninsula. Contact us and we will be glad to help you identify the turtle. Wild freshwater turtles live in ponds and lakes and they climb out of the water onto logs or rocks to bask in the warm sun.
Florida s common water turtles. 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. Most of these species can be spotted in river and other wetland areas in the panhandle and the northern areas of the state. The florida softshell turtle is a widespread species and occupies almost every freshwater habitat even tolerating some brackish environments.
Florida softshell turtle apalone ferox is a species of softshell turtle found primarily in the state of florida but it also ranges to southern sections of south carolina georgia alabama tennessee and texas. Several varieties of box turtle as well as the gopher tortoise. Florida is home to 34 turtle species. If there is a turtle that you can t identify.
Turtles are classified as members of kingdom animalia phylum chordata class reptilia and order testudines. Fans of florida turtles need not fret. Apart from box turtles which spend less time in the water all other freshwater turtles spend most of their time in water. There are thirteen families in the order and more than 356 species therefore freshwater turtles are reptiles like snakes and lizards.
These different habitats include swamps lakes marshes wet prairies small rivers. Some such as the japanese pond turtle can spend months at the bottom of a pond or stream. These slow moving long lived reptiles face major challenges in the sunshine state from collection for the pet trade road mortality and. As the name implies mud turtles prefer to stay in water bodies.
In this article i am going to take a closer look at each species and cover a few basic things about them things like the appearance lifespan how big it can get diet where it lives conservation status and reproduction. These turtles are generally aquatic or semi aquatic and spend most of their time in aquatic environments. However it is not often found in water with strong currents preferring habitats with slow moving or still water.