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Last Updated July 16, 2006

Kingdom Animalia:

  Phylum Chordata:

    Subphylum Vertebrata:

       Class Reptilia:

       Order Testudines:

         Family Trionychidae:

           Genus Apalone:

Click to enlarge

Apalone spinifera

Spiny Softshell Turtle
 

This is a spiny softshell turtle, Apalone spinifera (Trionyx spinifera by some schemes). It wandered its way up to my driveway from a nearby pond in the neighborhood. By judging from its large size, around 12-14 inches, I would say that it is probably a female and that she may have been looking for a good safe place to lay some eggs. It was surprisingly docile and allowed me to move it around some, but I was very careful because it always looked like it could have taken a nice chunk of flesh if I got too close to its head.

Here is some more detailed information on spiny softshell turtles, and here is more information with a video of a swimming softshell turtle.
 

You may see the original post or leave comments here.

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References

Animal Diversity Web

Genus:

Apalone

Species:

Apalone spinifera

Wikipedia:
 

Genus:

Apalone

Species:

Apalone spinifera