Different Species of Soft Shell Turtle in Florida

Florida is home to between 40 and 50 species of turtle including oceanic and freshwater turtles. Of these numerous species, five are considered soft shelled. Soft shells turtles have shells that are more leathery than hard. These turtles tend to be more aggressive than their hard-shelled cousins because they are more vulnerable to predators.

  1. Florida Softshelled Turtle

    • The Florida Softshell is the largest of the state's soft shells, growing to 2 feet in length. It has a flat, pancaked body shape with a brown-gray coloring. The animal has a long, rounded nose which it uses almost like a snorkel when submerged. It is found throughout the state of Florida, with the exception of the Keys area, and north into Alabama and South Carolina. This is a predatory turtle, feeding on fish, small birds, insects, crustaceans and amphibians.

    Smooth Softshelled Turtle

    • The Smooth Softshell grows to just over a foot in length. It has a flattened, circular, pancaked body shape with a tan to grayish-brown coloring. It has a long, pointed nose which it uses to breathe while the rest of its body is under the water. It prefers medium-fast rivers or lakes as its natural habitat and is found throughout Florida. The species can also be found as far north as Minnesota and west to New Mexico. This turtle feeds mainly on insects, amphibians, crustaceans and some marine plants.

    Spiny Softshelled Turtle

    • The Spiny Softshell grows to just under 2 feet in length. It has the typical shape of a soft shell turtle with a rougher skin and small, spiny bumps around the edges. It can range from olive-gray to yellowish-brown in color. Like the other soft shells, its nose is long and pointed so it can breathe while mostly submerged. It is predatory and feeds on fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. The species is found most commonly in the Carolinas, but is also found in the more northern regions of Florida.

    Sub-species of Softshells

    • The other two soft shell species found in Florida are actually subspecies. The Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell, which is just one of several subspecies which are all essentially identical, is found in northeastern parts of Florida. The Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell resembles its close relative the Smooth Softshell, but lacks facial stripes found on this species. It is also found in the Florida Panhandle region, sharing much of the same range as the Smooth Softshell.