lacks a hard shell and has a round, flattened, leathery carapace (upper shell). The front of the upper shell lacks any small bumps or spines. Characteristics They are called "softshell" because their carapaces lack horny scutes (scales), though the spiny softshell, Apalone spinifera, does have some scale-like projections, hence its name.The carapace is leathery and pliable, particularly at the sides. Scientific Name: Apalone spinifera spinifera Size: 5 – 18.9” (adult carapace length) Status: Locally common in the western part of its Great Lakes range but uncommon to rare and local in the east. While most turtles have hard shells composed of Scutes, the Florida softshell … (spiny softshell) lacks a hard shell and has a round, flattened, leathery carapace (upper shell). Identification: Like most trionychids (softshell turtles), Apalone spinifera emoryi . Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) The spiny softshell turtle is a very prehistoric looking creature with its flat, leathery shell and spiny warts on the back. What’s the difference between Florida and Spiny softshell turtles? Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America. It varies in size with males measuring from 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) and females measuring double that at 11-24 inches (28-61 cm). The central part of the carapace has a layer of solid bone beneath it, as in other turtles, but this is absent at the outer edges. Description: Like other softshells, the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox) is a large, flat turtle with skin covering its shell (resembling a pancake). Spiny softshell turtles (Apalone spinifera), the other softshell species found in Tennessee, live in a wider variety of water habitats, including slower-moving streams as well as lakes and marshes with very little current. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. The shell lacks the epidermal scutes (large scales) characteristic of most turtles, as in the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), and the bony architecture of the shell is reduced. Why is a turtle getting hooked an issue? The common name, spiny softshell, refers to the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the turtle's carapace, which are not scutes (scales). Smooth softshell turtles may be easily confused with the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), as the differences between the two species are subtle. Maintaining good water quality is key to keeping healthy softshell turtles. The Florida Softshell Turtle is a species of American freshwater turtles, and is one of the 26 species of turtles found in Florida. Identification: Like most trionychids (softshell turtles), Apalone spinifera. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as Softshell turtles.Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish areas. Have declined in some areas due to pollution, exploitation, and elimination of … Other Canadian species known to get caught on fishing hooks include the Northern Map Turtle, Painted Turtle, Spiny Softshell and Wood Turtle. In 2004, the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority produced the Stewardship of the Spiny Softshell Turtle, a guide targeting landowners with property next to turtle habitat. The spiny softshell turtle will eat almost anything in the water that will fit into its mouth, which may include aquatic insects, crayfish, and the occasional fish.They will bury themselves under a layer of mud at the bottom of a lake, with only their head sticking out, and catch prey as it passes by. The Spiny softshell turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Gulf Coast Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera aspera) The states of Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and parts of Louisiana, Florida and North Carolina are homes to the Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle. Baby softshell turtles need vitamin A, calcium and protein in order to thrive. It is the bulkiest of the softshell turtles but inhabits the smallest range. Adult females have a … Baby softshell turtles need vitamin A, calcium and protein in order to thrive. They are the largest of the New World softshell turtles with the most Old World characteristics of the Old World, like its longitudinally wrinkled carapace, tolerance for brackish water, and relatively large size. Spiny softshell turtles have a rough carapace with spines along the front edge while, as the name implies, smooth softshell turtles lack such spines. Like smooth softshells, spiny softshells need a sandy or muddy floor with little to no vegetation. By these turtles, the lateral stripes of the head meet at the posterior of the head.