Friday Herplogging: Spiny Softshell Turtle, Apalone spinifera

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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 suprisingly 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.

Don't forget to check out Modulator's Friday Ark.