Soft Shell Turtles: Native To The United States?

Softshell turtles are characterised by their flattened, flexible shells, long necks, and streamlined heads with tubular snouts. They are mainly carnivorous and are found in Africa, Asia, and North America. The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica) are two species native to the United States.

Smooth softshell turtles (Apalone mutica) are native to the United States

Two regional subspecies of Apalone mutica have been identified: the midland smooth softshell turtle (A. m. mutica) and the Gulf Coast smooth softshell turtle (A. m. calvata). Both subspecies are typically found in medium to large, unpolluted fresh waterways with moderate to fast currents. They prefer water with fine sand or silty, muddy bottoms and avoid areas with heavy boulders, gravel, or dense aquatic vegetation. Sandbanks are also important for these turtles, as they are often seen sunning themselves for warmth.

Smooth softshell turtles have a distinctive appearance, with a smooth, fairly soft, flexible, leather-like carapace covered by skin, as opposed to the hard scutes of most turtle species. The carapace is light white or gray, with no notable markings, and the underlying bones and organs may be visible. They have a tubular snout with round nostrils, sometimes compared to a "pig" nose. Sexual dimorphism is evident in this species, with females larger than males. The carapace length of females ranges from 16.5 to 35.6 cm, while males have a carapace length of 11.4 to 17.8 cm. The female's carapace is typically brown or olive-colored with dark brown blotches, while the male's carapace is brown or grayish with dark dots or dashes.

These turtles are mostly carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, crayfish, fish, and amphibians. However, they occasionally eat vegetation such as algae, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. The breeding season for smooth softshell turtles is from April to June, and they practice polygyny, with males mating with multiple females. Females lay clutches of 3 to 28 eggs in sandy areas close to water, and the eggs hatch after 8 to 12 weeks, typically between August and September.

Smooth softshell turtles are highly aquatic and are often referred to as "swimmers." They are able to stay underwater for extended periods due to their long necks and tubular snouts, and they often bury themselves in the sand substrate at the bottom of rivers or pools. They hibernate during the months of October to March by burying themselves underwater and emerge in the spring to bask in the sun. Their agility in water and on land helps them escape predators such as raccoons, humans, alligators, and snapping turtles.

While the smooth softshell turtle is currently considered a species of least conservation concern, it faces various threats, including habitat degradation, harvesting for food, and increased human disturbances at nesting sites. They are particularly vulnerable to water pollution due to their high rate of gas exchange through the skin. As a result, they have been listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera) are native to the United States

Spiny softshell turtles (*Apalone spinifera*) are native to the United States. They are one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. They are characterised by their soft, flat, rubbery shell, which has small spines along the front edge. The shell, or carapace, ranges in colour from brown or yellow-brown to olive, while the plastron (the lower part of the shell) is lighter, usually white or yellow. The spines are more commonly found on males.

The spiny softshell turtle is widespread throughout the United States, from the central-eastern US to Wisconsin and Minnesota, and as far south as Mexico. They are found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including rivers, ponds, lakes, and streams with sandy or muddy bottoms and relatively little vegetation. They are well-adapted to periodic habitat disturbances and can persist in urban environments.

Spiny softshell turtles are diurnal, spending most of the day in the sun, foraging for food. They are generalist feeders and will eat a variety of food items, including invertebrates such as crayfish and aquatic insects, fish, plant material, and mussels. They are adept at ambushing prey, burying themselves in the sand or mud with only their head exposed to capture prey as it passes by.

These turtles are strong swimmers, propelled by their fully webbed feet. They are also able to breathe underwater due to the pharyngeal and cloacal lining, and their skin, which enables them to stay submerged for extended periods. They are bimodal breathers, able to perform oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange by breathing air or underwater.

Spiny softshell turtles typically breed in mid-to-late spring, and females lay their eggs in late summer. They can live up to 50 years in the wild. While they are not listed as threatened in the United States, they face some threats, including habitat destruction, chemical pollution, and overhunting for the delicacy market.

Florida softshell turtles (Apalone ferox) are native to the United States

Florida softshell turtles (*Apalone ferox*) are native to the United States, specifically the southeastern United States. They are found in the state of Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. *Apalone ferox* is the only species of softshell turtle found in the entire Florida peninsula.

These turtles are highly aquatic and are found in a variety of freshwater habitats, including ponds, lakes, swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, and even man-made ponds. They are usually found in water bodies with muddy or sandy bottoms and occasionally in brackish waters near stream mouths. They prefer slow-moving or still water and are rarely found in waters with strong currents.

Florida softshell turtles are large, with a flattened, pancake-like body, a long neck, and an elongated head with a snorkel-like nose. Their webbed feet have three claws each. Unlike most turtles, they have a cartilaginous carapace covered in leathery skin, ranging in color from olive green to dark brown. They exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with adult females being 3-5 times larger than males.

Florida softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic, emerging from the water to bask in the sun or lay eggs. They are very fast-moving in water and on land. They are omnivorous but primarily carnivorous, with a diet consisting of fish, insects, crustaceans, frogs, mollusks, and even small birds.

The reproductive cycle of male Florida softshell turtles involves spring mating followed by sperm production in the fall, which is stored for the next mating season. Females may not reproduce every year, but they can produce up to 5 egg clutches in a single breeding season, with an average of over 20 eggs per clutch.

Florida softshell turtles are common throughout their range, but wild populations face threats such as commercial harvesting for meat and the pet trade, as well as roadway mortalities. They are also susceptible to pesticides due to their consumption of carrion.

Softshell turtles are native to other parts of the world

The spiny softshell turtle is the most widely distributed softshell turtle in North America, and this distribution may be due to habitat fragmentation caused by humans. This species has a wide range of habitats, including rivers, ponds, lakes, streams, and urban environments. They are well adapted to periodic habitat disturbances and can be found in waters with varying levels of vegetation. Spiny softshell turtles prefer shallow waters with sandy bottoms and clean, sandy banks for nesting, juvenile growth, and camouflage.

The smooth softshell turtle, on the other hand, is typically found in medium to large, unpolluted freshwater waterways with moderate to fast currents. They can also be found in standing or still bodies of water, such as lakes, swamps, and marshes, and prefer water with fine sand or silty, muddy bottoms. Like the spiny softshell turtle, they require sandy environments for nesting and sunning themselves.

Outside of North America, softshell turtles are also native to other parts of the world. The 14 genera of softshell turtles are divided into two evolutionary groups: the subfamily Cyclanorbinae, found in southern Asia, northeastern Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa; and the subfamily Trionychinae, found in southeastern North America, southern Asia, and Africa. The largest trionychine softshell turtles are the narrow-headed softshell (Chitra indica) and the Asian giant softshell (Pelochelys bibroni), both native to Southeast Asia.

Softshell turtles are eaten as a delicacy in some countries

Softshell turtles are native to North America, Africa, and Asia. In the United States, they are found in the Mississippi River system and other waterways that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. They are also present in adjoining rivers such as the Colorado River, the Brazos, the Pearl, and the Alabama. Softshell turtles have a distinctive appearance, with a soft, flexible, and leathery shell, long necks, and elongated snorkel-like nostrils. They are well-adapted to their aquatic environment and are capable of staying submerged for extended periods.

Softshell turtles are consumed as a delicacy in many parts of the world, particularly in East Asia. The Chinese softshell turtle (*Pelodiscus sinensis*), native to mainland China and Taiwan, is the most commonly consumed species internationally. It is also farmed extensively in China, contributing significantly to the food industry, and is considered a delicacy in many parts of Asia. In Japan, it is often stewed with hōtō noodles and served as a winter delicacy. In China, it is imported in large numbers and prepared in various ways, such as stewed with almonds, roasted with chili sauce, or fried with bamboo shoots.

The Japanese variety of the Chinese softshell turtle, known locally as *suppon*, was historically a significant part of Japanese cuisine, similar to the status of the diamondback terrapin in the United States or the green turtle in England. Large-scale farming of this species began in Japan as early as the late 19th century. The high demand for softshell turtles in East Asia has led to overhunting and rising prices, prompting the development of turtle farming in China and neighbouring countries to meet consumer demands.

In the United States, the consumption and trade of softshell turtles is a contentious issue. While softshell turtles were harvested legally in Florida until recently, environmental groups have advocated for restrictions or bans on the practice. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission implemented a daily limit of 20 turtles for licensed harvesters, which turtle advocates still consider unsustainable. The export of softshell turtles from the United States, particularly to China, has also drawn attention, with an estimated 3,000 pounds of softshell turtles exported weekly through Tampa International Airport. As a result, some states, including Florida and South Carolina, have imposed strict limitations on the wild turtle trade, including restrictions on the number of turtles that can be exported.

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