MWC Bulletin Nov. 2002 – Jan. 2003 Vol. 6, No. 1

Featured Species The Florida Softshell: A Unique Florida Turtle By Matthew J. Aresco, FSU Dept. of Biological Science

As a turtle biologist, people often aggressive. There is no in-between. filled with bird feathers; this turtle ask me, “What is your favorite Those that are aggressive can inflict had eaten a coot! turtle?” I always answer a serious bite with their long neck, Softshell turtles have been heavily unequivocally: “the Florida powerful jaws, and sharp jaw sheath. harvested in some areas for their softshell.” The Florida softshell On one occasion, I was carrying a meat, and some populations in turtle (Apalone ferox) is a large large male softshell in a cloth northern Florida have declined freshwater turtle with a relatively collecting bag and in a momentary because of over-harvesting. The life flat, leathery shell and a distinctive lapse of thought, I threw the bag over history characteristics of turtles – tubular snout. Its eyes are positioned my shoulder and was quickly bitten such as late maturity (5-8 years for towards the front of the head, giving through the bag and my shirt. When softshells) and high rates of egg and it almost binocular vision and a the turtle finally let go after about juvenile mortality – make some distinctly more intelligent look than five painful minutes, I had a bruise species especially vulnerable to over- other turtles. When people see this on the back of my arm shaped just harvesting. Populations can be turtle for the first time, they usually like a pair of softshell jaws. But decimated if large numbers of mature say, “What a strange looking turtle.” don't get me wrong: softshells are adults are taken, and recovery can be I thought the same thing when I still my favorite turtle. very slow. captured my first one in southern The Florida softshell ranges on the My recent observations suggest Alabama in 1995. southeastern lower Coastal Plain that Florida softshells are specifically The Florida softshell has well- from southern South Carolina to targeted at area lakes for their meat. developed webbing on each foot. It is Mobile, Alabama. They are found in During the recent dry-down of Lake lightning fast in the water and also a wide variety of freshwater habitats Jackson, I found only 87 Florida on land. While conducting research including lakes, ponds, rivers, canals, softshells and they represented only on turtles at Lake Jackson over the swamps, and suburban/ urban 1.8 percent of 4,856 turtles that I last few years, I have chased many stormwater ponds. They prefer captured in 2000. The Fla. Fish and softshells, often crashing through shallow, slow-moving water with a Wildlife Conservation Commission blackberry thickets only to come up soft bottom and abundant aquatic enacted a new rule in 2000 that empty handed but plenty scratched vegetation. The Florida softshell will prohibits the harvest and possession up, as they easily beat me back to the readily migrate over land to nearby of softshells and their eggs from May water. And forget about catching wetter areas if their wetland dries. I 1-July 31, which corresponds with them in the open water! have saved many from sure death on their nesting season. A long-term Adult softshells are tan/dark brown U.S. Highway 27 at Lake Jackson management strategy is essential to above and white/cream colored over the last few years. Of all the protect the Florida softshell and to below. Hatchlings and small turtles I do find dead on the highway, ensure that this unique turtle remains juveniles are beautifully colored – my heart always aches a little more a visible and viable part of Florida's dark brown/olive with large round, when I find a dead softshell. freshwater ecosystems. The next dark spots. They have brightly The Florida softshell is omnivorous time you see a strange tubular snout colored yellow, orange or red stripes and feeds on snails, insects, appear from the water lilies, be on the head and a red/orange rim on crustaceans, amphibians, and fish encouraged: it is probably a Florida the outer margin of the shell. Adult (live and dead), as well as algae and softshell turtle peering out to look females can reach 24 inches in length aquatic plants. In June, I captured a around. and adult males 14 inches in length. very large softshell at Lake Jackson Males have thicker and longer tails and kept it in a water-filled container For more information about Matthew than females, though. overnight to see what it had eaten Aresco’s turtle research, visit The softshells I have encountered (via its excretion). The next morning www.lakejacksonturtles.org are either very docile or very I was surprised to see the container or e-mail [email protected]. 4