(Apalone spinifera)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure S5 - Secure |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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There are just three species of softshell turtle native to North America. Two occur in Minnesota. Of these, spiny softshell turtle is by far the most common. It occurs in the United States from Vermont to Florida west to Minnesota, Colorado, and California; in southern Ontario Canada; and in Mexico. It is found mostly in rivers but also in streams, lakes, and ponds. It prefers open areas with sandy or muddy bottoms and a small amount of vegetation. There are seven subspecies of spiny softshell turtle. Only one, northern (eastern) spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera), occurs in Minnesota. Spiny softshell turtle is a large freshwater turtle. Size is usually given given as the length of the upper shell (carapace). Males are 5″ to 9½″ (12.7 to 24 cm) long. Females are much larger, 9½″ to 19″ (24 to 48 cm) long. The carapace is rounded, smooth, leathery, and flexible on the edges. There are no scales (scutes). There are many small spines but these are restricted to the front edge near the neck. This is the feature that gives the turtle its common name. The background color is light brown to olive green and there is a thin dark line near the margin. On the male and on juveniles of both sexes there are numerous dark circles. As the female ages the carapace darkens and the circles become blotches. The lower shell (plastron) is whitish or yellow. The upper side of the head, neck, and limbs are are colored similar to the carapace. The chin is yellow. On the neck there are two yellow lines, an upper and a lower, bordered by black. The lines do not connect. The upper line continues through the eye. The nose is elongated, snout-like, and turned up at the end. Males have longer, thicker tails. On the female the tail barely extends beyond the carapace. The feet are webbed and clawed. ----------------------------- The description above refers to the northern (eastern) spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera). |
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Size |
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Male carapace length: 5″ to 9½″ (12.7 to 24 cm) Female carapace length: 9½″ to 19″ (24 to 48 cm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, in open areas with sandy or muddy bottoms and a small amount of vegetation. |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Spiny softshell turtle is active during the day, often basking on logs and riverbanks. It can both breath air and can take oxygen from the water, allowing it to spend a long time underwater. It is a fast swimmer, faster than the fish that it preys upon. When handled it can extend its long neck and deliver a painful bite. From October to April it is dormant and buried in the substrate. |
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Lifespan |
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A large female can live up to fifty years. |
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Life Cycle |
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The female lays up to 40 eggs in a nest once or twice a year. After laying the eggs she has no further involvement with the eggs or with the young. |
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Food |
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Aquatic invertebrates including crayfish, snails, aquatic insects, frogs, and fish. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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4/15/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Reptilia (reptiles) | ||
Order | Testudines (turtles and tortoises) | ||
Suborder | Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles) | ||
Superfamily | Trionychia (softshell turtles) | ||
Family |
Trionychidae (softshell and flapshell turtles) | ||
Subfamily |
Trionychinae (softshell turtles) | ||
Genus |
Apalone (American softshells) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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black spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera atra) Guadalupe spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera guadalupensis) Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera aspera) northern (eastern) spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera spinifera) palid spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera pallida) Texas spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera emoryi) western spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera hartwegi) |
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Synonyms |
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Amyda ferox spinifera Trionyx ferox spinifera Trionyx spiniferus |
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Common Names |
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spiny softshell turtle |
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Glossary
Carapace
The hard, upper (dorsal), shell-like covering (exoskeleton) of the body or at least the thorax of many arthropods and of turtles and tortoises. On crustaceans, it covers the cephalothorax. On spiders, the top of the cephalothorax made from a series of fused sclerites.
Plastron
The hard, lower (ventral), shell-like covering (exoskeleton) of the body of turtles and tortoises.
Visitor Photos |
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Mike Poeppe |
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Greg Watson |
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I was riding my bike around Lake Winona in Winona, MN this morning and came across this Spiny Softshell Turtle laying eggs right by the path. | ![]() |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Possibly the cutest turtle ever...the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) Turtley Wild |
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About
Jul 28, 2021 Today we come across a juvenile spiny softshell turtle while looking for stripe neck musk turtles. This is our first softshell of the season so we were very excited. Softshell turtles are just so unique looking, it's hard not to get excited when you find one! Music: Sunny |
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The Spiny Softshell Turtle: Ontario Wildlife Video Series Ryan M. Bolton |
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About
Sep 30, 2013 Donation Page: http://www.artofconservation.ca/RMBol... Educational video of the Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) and its conservation in Ontario, Canada. Filmed, edited, and narrated by Ryan M. Bolton, MSc © Ryan M. Bolton Donated Music: |
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Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network |
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About
Mar 13, 2013 |
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Dylan Gentry: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle! (Apalone Spinifera Spinifera) Dylan Gentry Official |
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About
May 8, 2015 via YouTube Capture |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Mike Poeppe 4/15/2023 |
Location: about 3 miles east of Hokah, MN |
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Greg Watson 6/23/2021 |
Location: Lake Winona in Winona, MN I was riding my bike around Lake Winona in Winona, MN this morning and came across this Spiny Softshell Turtle laying eggs right by the path. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 8/10/2021
Last Updated: