Spiny Softshell Turtle
Apalone spinifera
Shell is soft, flat, & rubber-like, edges of carapace pliable with small spines. Female carapace length varies from 7 to 19 inches, females being much larger than males a…
How to identify
Shell is soft, flat, & rubber-like, edges of carapace pliable with small spines. Female carapace length varies from 7 to 19 inches, females being much larger than males at 5 to 10 inches. Pig like nose on narrow, long snout, fully webbed feet.
Range
Found throughout the eastern half of the United States, coastal to Wisconsin and south to Mexico.
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in ponds, rivers, streams, and lakes with muddy bottoms and little vegetation. Sometimes found under mud on lake bottoms, able to breathe underwater.
Variations
Males significantly smaller than females.
Similar species
Name and etymology
Genus
Apalone
Greek for soft or tender.
Origin
Sources
- Rafinesque, 1832. Atlantic J. Friend Knowledge Philadelphia, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 64
Apalone. Rafinesque, 1832 - Atlantic J. Friend Knowledge Philadelphia, Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 64
Species epithet
spinifera
Latin for having (-ifer) thorns or spines (spina).
Origin
Sources
- (Le Sueur, 1827). Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, Vol. 15, p. 258, pl. 6 ↗
Apalone spinifera. (Le Sueur, 1827) - Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris, Vol. 15, p. 258, pl. 6
Explore more names in the etymology index.
At a glance
Size
12.7 to 48 cm
Range
Found throughout the eastern half of the United States, coastal to Wisconsin and south to Mexico.
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in ponds, rivers, streams, and lakes with muddy bottoms and little vegetation. Sometimes found under mud on la…
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap