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Abbreviation Legend

  • (CE) - Criticially Endangered
  • (CI) - Critically Imperiled
  • (E) - Endangered
  • (I) - Introduced
  • (IM) - Imperiled
  • (NT) - Near Threatened
  • (T) - Threatened
  • (V) - Vulnerable
  • (**) - Recent Classification Change
Home »» Turtles & Tortoises »» Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)

Softshell Turtles of the United States


Softshell turtles are easily identified by a nearly circular, pancakelike carapace covered with soft leathery skin instead of horny scutes. The feet are paddlelike, fully webbed, and have 3 claws on each foot. The snout is tubular, the beak sharp and enclosed in fleshy lips

Strong swimmers, softshells cruise submerged, breathing through their snorkel like snouts. They like to bask near the shore, but are easily disturbed, and display great agility and speed in retreeating to the safety of the water. One to three clutches of hard shelled, spherical eggs are laid each season. Female softshells grow significantly larger then males and as adults their original carapace patterns become obscured by blotches or mottling. Males tend to retain the juvenile pattern, they have long thick tails with anal opeing near the tail tip.

Extreme care should be taken in handling softshells. The long neck and sharp jaws surprise many a careless collector.

 

There are only 6 species of Softshell Turtles in the United States. Three are native and three are Introduced.

Florida Softshell Turtle
(Apalone ferox)

Smooth Softshell Turtle
(Apalone mutica)

Spiny Softshell Turtle
(Apalone spinifera)
(I) (CE)

Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle
(Palea steindachneri)
(I) (V)

Amur Softshell Turtle
(Pelodiscus maackii)
(I) (V) (**)

Chinese Softshell Turtle
(Pelodiscus sinensis)

 

 

 

 

Recommended Books at Amazon.com


Turtles of North America: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Turtles of the Continental United States and Canada     Turtles of the United States and Canada     Common Box Turtles     Complete North American Box Turtle



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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
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