Spiny softshell turtle
Spiny Softshell Turtle ( Apalone spinifera )
The spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spinifera ) belongs to the family of soft-shelled turtles ( Trionychidae ).
Description
The animals can reach a length of up to 48 cm. The males are smaller and lighter than the females. The soft olive brown or olive green carapace is flat and has a round or oval shape. There are small spines on the yellow edge of the carapace. Particularly striking is the sharp, long nose of the turtle. The snout and the head have got an olive - yellow to yellow- eyebrow coloring.
Occurrence
The species occurs in North America, Mexico and southeastern Canada. There she lives in rivers, lakes and ponds.
Food
The diurnal animals are carnivores. They feed on insects, snails, worms, frogs, fish, crustaceans and larvae.
Reproduction
The females lay in a pit 10 to 30 eggs. The young hatch after 90 to 150 days. The gender is determined by the height of the incubation temperature during embryonic development. The animals can reach the age up to 50 years.
Subspecies
- Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle ( spinifera spinifera Apalone )
- Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spinifera aspera )
- Texas spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spinifera emoryi )
- Guadalupe Spiny Softshell Turtle ( Apalone spinifera guadalupensis )
- Western Spiny Softshell Turtle ( Apalone spinifera hartwegi )
- Bright spiny softshell turtle ( Apalone spinifera pallida )