Florida Softshell Turtle

Florida Softshell Turtle

Apalone ferox

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Everglades National Park
881 Verified records at Everglades National Park
May Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to the Southeastern United States. The maximum recorded lifespan of a Florida softshell turtle is 26 years. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Florida Softshell Turtle sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 881 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
30–40
Feb
40–50
Mar
40–50
Apr
50–60
May
40–50
Jun
30–40
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
30–40
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
2 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Florida Softshell Turtle in Everglades National Park?

About 39% of wildlife watchers report a Florida Softshell Turtle sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 881 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Florida Softshell Turtle in Everglades National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for Florida Softshell Turtle in Everglades National Park in our monthly data.

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