Spiny Softshell ²

Spiny Softshells are present but not often seen at the Arboretum. They are usually spotted in the Meadow pond, which is the largest and deepest body of water at the sanctuary. These large turtles are unusual for having soft, skin-covered shells rather than the usual hard, scale-covered shells of most turtles. They are highly aquatic and are surprisingly fast and agile swimmers. They have long necks and long, snorkel-like noses, allowing them to keep their nostrils above water while keeping the rest of their bodies submerged. They eat aquatic prey like small fish and crawfish.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Erin and Lance Willett, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/60477398@N00/325289939
2. Adapted by hancnaturalist from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apalone_spinifera

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HerpMapper
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• The Reptile Database
• VertNet

iNat Map