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Apalone ferox (SCHNEIDER, 1783)

IUCN Red List - Apalone ferox - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaTrionychidae (Trionychinae), Trionychoidea, Testudines (turtles)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Florida Softshell Turtle
G: Florida-Weichschildkröte 
SynonymTestudo ferox SCHNEIDER 1783: 330
Testudo mollis LACÉPÈDE 1788
Testudo ferox verrucosa SCHOEPFF 1795
Testudo bartrami DAUDIN 1802 (nomen subst. pro T. ferox verrucosa)
Trionyx carinatus GEOFFROY 1809
Trionyx georgianus GEOFFROY 1809 (nomen subst. pro T. ferox SCHNEIDER)
Trionyx georgicus GEOFFROY 1809 (nomen subst. pro T. ferox SCHNEIDER)
Trionyx ferox — SCHWEIGGER 1812
Trionyx brogniarti SCHWEIGGER 1812
Aspidonectes ferox — WAGLER 1830
Aspidonectes carinatus — WAGLER 1830
Testudo ferox — CUVIER 1831: 19
Trionyx harlani BELL 1835 (in HARLAN)
Trionyx ferox— SCHLEGEL et al. 1838: 30
Platypeltis ferox — FITZINGER 1843
Platypeltis brogniarti — FITZINGER 1843
Platypeltis ferox — LOENNBERG 1894
Amyda ferox — ALLEN 1932
Trionyx ferox — WEBB 1973
Apalone ferox — MEYLAN 1987
Trionyx ferox — ALDERTON 1988
Apalone ferox — ERNST & BARBOUR 1989
Apalone ferox — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 82
Apalone ferox — CROTHER 2000
Trionyx ferox — HALLMEN 2005
Apalone ferox — TTWG 2014
Apalone ferox — TTWG 2021 
DistributionUSA (SW South Carolina, S Georgia, Florida, S Alabama)

Type locality: Savannah River (at Savannah), Georgia  
Reproductionoviparous. Apalone ferox and A. spinifera hybridize (LOVE 2009). Clutch size: ca. 17 (Ballinger 1978) 
TypesHolotype: BMNH 1947.3.6.17 (formerly 53A) 
DiagnosisAdditional details, e.g. a detailed description or comparisons (1663 characters), are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentType species: Testudo ferox is the type species of Platypeltis FITZINGER.

Distribution: records from Louisiana may be introductions (Selman et al. 2016).

Habitat: freshwater (rivers and tributaries, lakes) 
EtymologyNamed after Latin ferox = wild, savage — referring to the ferocious disposition attributed to the species. 
References
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  • Ballinger, R.E. 1978. Variation in and evolution of clutch and litter size. in: Jones, R.E. (ed.), The vertebrate ovary, Plenum Publishing
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