Meet the Turtles

ODDBALLS
Two other unusual turtles also live in the river and springs.

Florida Chicken Turtle 
Deirochelys reticularia
ID:

• long neck with many yellow stripes wide mouth
• carapace length**: female 9.8" (249mm); male 6.2" (157mm)

Habitat: rare in river and springs
Diet: carnivore, specializing on crayfish and insects
Nesting Season: March - September

• basks rarely

Florida Chicken Turtle

Florida Softshell Turtle 
Apalone ferox
ID:

• long neck
• leathery carapace
• snorkel nose
• carapace length*: female 19.9" (505mm); male 11.9" (303mm)

Habitat: rare in river and springs
Diet: carnivore
Nesting Season: May - July

• diurnal
• basks rarely
• fastest swimming turtle in the Santa Fe River
• take from the wild prohibited May 1 to July 31 [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]

Florida Softshell Turtle

* Carapace length listed is longest recorded in Santa Fe River
** Carapace length listed is longest recorded in Florida

​©2020 Santa Fe River Turtle Project