The spiny softshell turtle occurs throughout the state in lakes, sloughs, mud-bottomed streams, and sand-bottomed rivers. However, letting a pet turtle that was perhaps from another state/country/region loose in the wild is injurious to not only the animal you are freeing, but also to the local population of animals. … These turtles are members of the family Trionychidae, which has a total of two representatives in Indiana. It takes only seconds for this turtle to completely bury itself in the sand, lying just deep enough for its long, pointed snout to reach the surface for air, like a snorkel. It is especially suited for insect hunting. 1827. Note sur deux especes de tortues du genre Trionyx Gff. It is very easy to recognize these turtles from the smooth appearance of their carapaces. Jason Ross (INHS), Robert Bluett (IDNR), and Michael J. Dreslik (INHS) Jason Ross radio-tracking a Smooth Softshell Turtle in the Kaskaskia River near Fayetteville, Illinois. Natural History: Males and juveniles congregate in sandy shallows to bury in the substrate and bask along exposed banks. The smooth softshell turtle is listed as endangered in Illinois. An adult male Smooth Softshell Turtle will be gray or brown in color, and there will also be some small dots and dashes found on the animal’s back. Carapace irregularly patterned with small dark spots or dashes that expand into blotches or mottling in … Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) is a species of softshell turtle found primarily in the state of Florida, but it also ranges to southern sections of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas. Status: Endangered. This turtle's shell is soft, smooth and leathery with no scales or scutes (plates). Female lays multiple clutches of 6 to 26 round, brittle-shelled eggs (ca. It is considered an endangered species in the state of Illinois. It is most abundant in the latter. INHS Herpetology Collection Paired, dark-bordered, white stripes extend across snout to eyes. Check out the IDNR’s Wild About Illinois Turtles! The Prairie Research … See Key to Illinois Turtles for help with identification. Description: Medium-sized (up to 28 cm CL) turtle with tan, brown, or olive carapace with light posterior border. Relationships among members of Trionychidae, and taxonomy within the clade, are still poorly … The size of this area is 474 m for males and 750 m for young females. The shell lacks any distinct bumps or coloration. That species is one of six that are classified as “state-endangered,” joining the river cooter, smooth softshell, Illinois mud turtle, Blanding’s turtle, and spotted turtle. In the Midwest, its range includes the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missou - ri river basins (Ernst and Lovich 2009). Smooth softshell turtle females move around quite a bit when searching for nesting habitat. Smooth Softshell Turtle. 607 East Peabody Drive I investigated the spatial ecology of A. mutica in two reaches of the Kaskaskia River in south-central Illinois from 2013-2014. It is the only species of a softshell turtle whose range spans the … website to learn about the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle... Apalone spinifera Eastern spiny softshell turtle... Caretta caretta Loggerhead... Chelonia mydas Green turtle... Chelydra serpentina ... Illinois (23) North Carolina (23) South Carolina (23) Virginia (23) Arkansas (21) Tennessee (21) Maryland (20) They love to bury in sand with just their head exposed waiting to surprise a fish. The male Smooth Softshell Turtle carapaces only reach half of this length. The smooth softshell turtle has a smooth, flexible and leather like carapace that is covered by skin instead of the hard scutes commonly observed in other turtle species. The Smooth Softshell's distribution in Indiana follows major rivers, including the Wabash, Ohio, and Blue. Only the latter is found in Illinois. For instance, the Florida softshell turtle can weigh over 40 pounds and reach over 2 feet long, requiring a large area to swim. Apalone mutica, the smooth softshell turtle, is a member of Trionychidae within Cryptodira.There are four extant species of Apalone (Ernst and Barbour, 1989; Bonin et al., 2006). They quickly settle in and will swim about their tanks as much as fish. The carapaces of the females grow up to 14 inches in length. Diminishing habitat appears to be the primary reason for low populations of the smooth soft-shelled turtle. Smooth Softshells make very good community turtles. Compared to other turtle species, the smooth softshell turtles are large. Colors. Compared to other turtle species, the smooth softshell turtles are large. Spatial ecological information is necessary to guide the conservation efforts of river turtles, but it is lacking for many species including the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). The smooth softshell turtle can be found from Pennsylvania to New Mexico and Florida (they are found in from central to south central United States). Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina. The eastern spiny softshell turtle is one of two softshell turtles in Illinois, and it is the more widespread of the two. Eastern Mud Turtles are ... 17 of those turtle species inhabit Illinois, dwelling in forests, prairies, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, streams Last week, a concerned fisherman brought this gorgeous softshell turtle to the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Populations appear to be declining in much of the state. Content from Illinois Public Media on Softshell Turtle. And sand-bottomed rivers turtle has a larger, thicker tail with vent opening beyond rear edge of carapace lacking or... 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