Where’s Wildlife · Turtle Field Guide
Apalone spinifera
Pronounced (approx.): uh-PAL-oh-nee spy-NIF-er-uh
A flat, leathery-shelled turtle with a snorkel-like nose and small bumps along the front shell edge.
Spiny Softshell Turtle. Select the photo to browse the gallery. Photographs © Where’s Wildlife.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Sizes refer to upper-shell length; age, sex and location affect size.
Flat, flexible shell without large horny scutes
Small spines or bumps along the front shell margin
Strongly patterned feet and pale, dark-bordered head stripes
Compare views, markings and body shapes in the photographs below.
Look for the flexible shell, patterned feet and tiny projections along the front shell edge. In a very clear front view, a ridge projects into each nostril. Males and young often have small dark shell spots or rings; adult females may be more mottled.
Smooth Softshells lack the small front-edge spines and have round nostrils without the projecting ridge. A flat shell alone identifies the softshell group, so use close views of the head and front shell margin for the species.
Rivers, backwaters, lakes and ponds, often with sandy or muddy bottoms. Adults feed on aquatic insects, crayfish, fish and other small aquatic animals. Basks on banks or logs and often rests buried in bottom sediment.
Spiny Softshells hunt aquatic prey and may conceal themselves in sand. Females come ashore to bury eggs in sandy or muddy nesting sites. Even though the shell looks soft, it covers a bony framework.
The leathery shell lacks the large external scutes seen on pond turtles.
A turtle may hide beneath bottom sediment with little of its body visible.
Adult females grow substantially larger than males.
Native across much of central and eastern North America. In Illinois it occupies many river systems and other suitable waters; occurrence depends on local habitat.
Explore reported sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.
Photographs © Where’s Wildlife.