Spiny Softshell Turtle
Apalone spinifera
Description
7 - 16-1/2 inches (female), 5 - 8-1/2 inches (male).
Animated pancakes. Softshell turtles do not have a
hard outer covering for their shells, but instead have
a tough outer skin, devoid of scales or scutes. Olive
carapace, males skin is sandpapery. There are conical,
spiny projections along the front edge of the carapace.
Carapace rimmed by a light border that may be outlined
by a darker line. Carapace is olive to tan, with a
pattern of black ocelli or dark blotches. Plastron is
an immaculate white or yellow. Head and limbs are olive
to gray with a pattern of dark spots and streaks. Two
dark-bordered light stripes are on each side of the
head, one going back from the eye, the other going back
from the mouth.
Softshell turtles are exquisitely adapted to an aquatic
lifestyle. They have fully webbed feet (almost
paddles), and a smooth shell that and is extremely
flattened and streamlined. The edge of the carapace is
smooth, allowing the turtle to rapidly burrow into mud
or sand bottoms. The long neck and elongated nostrils
allow the turtle to remain hidden in the mud and still
reach air. A fair amount of oxygen can be obtained
directly from the water through a specialized vascular
development at the back of the mouth. Three claws on
each limb. Often the underlying skeleton can be
discerned through the carapace. Long neck. Snout is
long and tubular with nostrils at the tip, each with a
septal ridge. The thick tail of the male extends well
beyond edge of carapace (with opening near the tip),
female's much smaller tail does not. Males usually
better marked, females becoming more pale and mottled
with age.
Habitat
The spiny softshell ranges from western New York,
western Pennsylvania and southern Ontario west to
southern South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and south to
the Gulf costal states and into New Mexico. It has been
introduced into New Jersey, the Gila-Lower Colorado
river system in Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and
western New Mexico. Ranges as far south as Tamaulipas,
Nuevo Leon, Coahila, and eastern Chihuahua, Mexico.
Rivers, large streams, freshwater bayous. Prefers some
water current, sandy or muddy bottoms, and at least
some aquatic vegetation. Often found around fallen
trees with spreading, underwater limbs.
Behavior
Highly aquatic. May bask on a bank, but will rapidly
retreat to the water when disturbed. Can move
surprisingly fast, essentially running for the water.
Will bask in shallow water. Often lies buried in the
bottom, using its long neck and nose to reach the
surface for air. Usually sleeps at night buried in the
substrate. Strong and fast swimmer. Can and will bite!
Their long necks can reach an unwary hand even toward
the rear of the carapace. Handle larger individuals by
the rear legs, if at all. They have been reported to
squirt blood from the eyes when disturbed.
Reproduction
Nests May to August, in full sunlight and close to the
water. Nest is 6 to 9 inches deep, 4 - 32 hard shelled,
brittle, round eggs 1-1/8 inch in diameter. Incubation
varies from 95 days at 25 C to 52 days at temperatures
above 30 C. They appear to not be temperature-dependent
sex determinate. Sex ratios are near 1:1. Hatchlings
(30 - 40 mm) resemble adult males in shape, color, and pattern.
Food
Predominantly carnivorous: insects, fish, frogs,
crawfish. Will take some vegetation. Will actively pursue and capture
small animals, also use a gape and suck attack to take
prey on the bottom.
Copyright (c) 2004 Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society
Permission is granted to copy for non-profit use with proper credit given. For any other use you must obtain permission.
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