The Smooth Softshell Turtle features a smooth carapace that does not display any of the typical bony scutes found on other turtle breeds. Females are larger than males, with a carapace length of 16.5-35.6 cm (6.5-14 in.) 15. They're excellent swimmers and do well in mostly water tanks, with plants and other under water objects. They're excellent swimmers and do well in mostly water tanks, with plants and other under water objects. Colors. Taxonomy. The goals were to 1) determine Factors affecting movement, home range, and habitat use, 2) obtaining estimates of population size and population structure, and 3) determine the freshwater turtle community structure. website to learn about the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). They quickly settle in and will swim about their tanks as much as fish. The male Smooth Softshell Turtle carapaces only reach half of this length. The photo gallery below provides information about several of the turtles that are found in Illinois. The spiny soft-shelled turtle is a regular inhabitant of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in Southern Illinois. The carapaces of the females grow up to 14 inches in length. Compared to other turtle species, the smooth softshell turtles are large. Lawrence. The diet includes a variety of animal foods but especially aquatic insects. For permissions information, contact the Illinois Natural History Survey. The plastron (lower shell) is white. 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). 1827. Because of their soft shells, these turtles are more vulnerable to predators. 22 mm diameter) in sand banks or bars from late May into July. Midland Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta marginata. conservation efforts for the Smooth Softshell Turtle. Small numbers of females and juveniles at one site suggest problems with recruitment in one population; the other population was a … As the name suggests, the Smooth Softshell Turtle’s carapace does not have any bumps, ridges, or spines - they are flat and leathery with flexible edges. Habitat: Rivers and large streams having sand substrate, bars, and banks. Click trait name for all matches or numbers for narrower searches (e.g., het only). There are two types of soft-shelled turtle in Illinois. They inhabit the Mississippi, Colorado, Sabine and Pearl, Alabama, Brazos, and Escambia river drainage systems. Relatively nonagressive. I live in Illinois and the Eastern Spiny Softshell and the Smooth Softshell are both native and very abundant here. 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). It is especially suited for insect hunting. Eastern Mud Turtles are ... 17 of those turtle species inhabit Illinois, dwelling in forests, prairies, marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, streams Jeremy Gets To Grips With a Bone Crushing Softshell Turtle | TURTLE | River Monsters - Duration: 2:11. Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata ornata Smooth softshell turtle’s habitat. Housing the Softshell Turtle . Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science (2018) Volume 111, pp. 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). Female is more solitary, wanders more, and utilizes deeper water than male. Because of their soft shells, these turtles are more vulnerable to predators. It is considered an endangered species in the state of Illinois. Relationships among members of Trionychidae, and taxonomy within the clade, are still poorly understood (e.g., Meylan, 1987; Engstrom et al., 2004). Turtle Ornate Box Turtle Smooth Softshell Spiny Softshell Red-eared Slider Year Round None 3 3 Any Method None None North The spiny softshell is one of the most common turtle species in the Illinois River along with the red-eared slider. Smooth Softshells quickly learn to come to feeding and will liven up any tank. compared to 11.4-17.8 cm (4.5-7 in.) Similar Species: Smooth Softshell. INHS Illinois River Biological Station researchers commonly catch these creatures in the hoop nets they use to sample fishes. 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). We weren’t sure if the turtle had swallowed the hook or … Subspecies: Two subspecies are currently recognized, Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell, A. m. calvata (Webb, 1959) and Midland Smooth Softshell, A. m. mutica. The carapaces of the females grow up to 14 inches in length. The spiny softshell turtle occurs throughout the state in lakes, sloughs, mud-bottomed streams, and sand-bottomed rivers. Their name refers both to the leathery skin covering the shell and to the rear portion of the shell that is tough but flexible (Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 2014). Softshell turtles have a hard bony shell. See Key to Illinois Turtles for help with identification. Only the Eastern Spiny Softshell, A. s. spinifera is found in Illinois. 8813 designated lectotype by Webb (1962. Natural Resources Building The carapace of adult females is tan or brown with irregular dark brown blotches, while the carapace of males and juveniles is a brown or grayish color with scattered, small dark brown dots or da… INHS Herpetology Collection University of Kansas Publications. Repair Damage: What to Know Before Making Repairs, Contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist, IDNR’s Wild About Illinois Turtles! Midland Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica mutica. Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina. The plastron is light (white or gray) with no markings, and the underlying bones are visible. 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. Plastron white to cream. The Smooth Softshell Turtle. Females of this species can reach 14-inches while males are about half that length. website to learn about the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). Last week, a concerned fisherman brought this gorgeous softshell turtle to the Wildlife Medical Clinic. 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. Male smooth softshell turtles have thicker tails than females, a trait commonly observed in turtle species. The male Smooth Softshell Turtle carapaces only reach half of this length. 13 (10): 429-611). Nomenclatural History: Also referred to as Amyda mutica in older literature. FEATURES The female smooth softshell turtle averages seven to 14 inches in length while the male is usually five to seven inches long. Relationships among members of Trionychidae, and taxonomy within the clade, are still poorly … Diminishing habitat appears to be the primary reason for low populations of the smooth soft-shelled turtle. As adults, they usually have an area about 1,2228 m long where they generally feed and live. It gives the animal a pancakelike appearance. Currently, the Smooth Softshell Turtle is listed as a State Endangered Species in Illinois and in 2013 we began our research. It spends most of its time in the water, though on warm days will soak up the sun basking on sandbars. Description: Medium-sized (up to 28 cm CL) turtle with tan, brown, or olive carapace with light posterior border. 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. Distribution Notes: Although restricted to rivers with sandy bottoms and frequent sandbars, the Smooth Softshell is absent from the apparently suitable rivers of Kankakee and Iroquois counties. ... Illinois, Snapping and Softshell Turtles are often sought for food. In 2015, of the state's 17 turtle species, six (the alligator snapping turtle, the spotted turtle, Blanding's turtle, the eastern river cooter, the yellow mud turtle and the smooth softshell turtle) are state endangered and one (the ornate box turtle) is state threatened. The Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) is a highly aquatic turtle that oc-curs in central and south-central parts of the United States. Softshell Turtles. The Smooth Softshell prefers medium-sized to large rivers with moderate to fast flows and 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. The Smooth Softshell differs from the Spiny in being flatter and more circular, and lacking the "spines" on the front of the carapace. The size of this area is 474 m for males and 750 m for young females. This turtle lives exclusively in large rivers. The smooth softshell turtle is listed as endangered in Illinois. Common Name - Smooth Softshell Turtle Category - Reptiles Scientific Name - Apalone mutica Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Reptilia Order - Testudines Family - Trionychidae Genus - Apalone Species - muticus SubSpecies. 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. Description: Medium-sized (up to 28 cm CL) turtle with tan, brown, or olive carapace with light posterior border. Smooth softshell turtle females move around quite a bit when searching for nesting habitat. Type Specimen: Syntypes. Midland Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica mutica Females and males also differ in color. The species is endemic to North America. Female lays multiple clutches of 6 to 26 round, brittle-shelled eggs (ca. Smooth Softshell Turtle. Of Illinois’ 60 species of reptiles, perhaps the most highly adapted for an aquatic existence are the state’s two species of softshell turtles—smooth and spiny. Care for smooth softshell turtles in many forms. 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. Smith (1961) considered Illinois populations to be mainly A. s. Paired, dark-bordered, white stripes extend across snout to eyes. They love to bury in sand with just their head exposed waiting to surprise a fish. The Kaskaskia River supports a diverse turtle community, with the spiny softshell and Ouachita map turtle as the main competitors of the smooth softshell. All rights reserved. smooth softshell (Apalone mutica) and spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). Smooth Softshell Turtle Description. Mus. Original Description: Le Sueur, C.A. The Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois Natural History Survey provides species distribution maps and more natural history information about the spiny softshell turtle and the smooth softshell turtle. Of Illinois’ 60 species of reptiles, perhaps the most highly adapted for an aquatic existence are the state’s two species of softshell turtles—smooth and spiny. Natural History: Males and juveniles congregate in sandy shallows to bury in the substrate and bask along exposed banks. Identification. The Latest News. The Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica mutica) is the only subspecies that occurs in Indiana. The smooth softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle of the family Trionychidae. They love to bury in sand with just their head exposed waiting to surprise a fish. Spiny softshell turtles have a rough carapace with spines along the front edge while, as the name implies, smooth softshell turtles lack such spines. Similar Species: Spiny Softshell. Smooth softshell turtles may be easily confused with the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), as the differences between the two species are subtle. 607 East Peabody Drive The shell lacks any distinct bumps or coloration. Mississippi Mud Turtle Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis. Subspecies: Five subspecies are currently recognized in the United States. In the Midwest, its range includes the Mississippi, Ohio, and Missou - ri river basins (Ernst and Lovich 2009). It is the only species of a softshell turtle whose range spans the … A large tank, probably one that holds 80 to100 gallons of water, is a suitable habitat for a smooth softshell turtle. In some locations it may grow to a shell length of 30 inches (77 cm) and a weight of more than 250 pounds (112.5 kilograms). Mississippi Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii. Only the latter is found in Illinois. Populations appear to be declining in much of the state. The Smooth Softshell inhabits larger rivers and prefers to bask, nest, and conceal itself in sandy areas, like emergent sand bars. Females of this species can reach 14-inches while males are about half that length. At roughly half that size, the spiny and smooth softshell turtles are more manageable as pets. Check out the IDNR’s Wild About Illinois Turtles! The smallest Illinois turtle is the spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata. website. See Key to Illinois Turtles for help with identification. Within river systems, smooth softshell turtles had highest populations in the open side channels and main channels of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in southern Illinois. woodlands and prairies, while the Smooth Softshell Turtle and Alligator Snapping Turtle favor rivers. Unlike most turtles, the smooth softshell turtle has a smooth, leatherlike, flexible carapace and a long, tubular snout. When he found her, she had a fish hook caught in her mouth, but by the time she reached our hospital, the hook was nowhere in sight. Feet neither strongly streaked nor patterned. Museum of Natural History. 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. They quickly settle in and will swim about their tanks as much as fish. Note sur deux especes de tortues du genre Trionyx Gff. If you don’t know what the species is, click on the text to work through the key. Type Locality: “Newharmony, sur le Wabash” [=New Harmony, Wabash River, Posey County, IN], Original Name: Trionyx muticus Le Sueur, 1827. Unusual in lakes. The Prairie Research … Blanding’s Turtles normally dwell in marshes. Smooth softshell turtles have a tubular snout with round nostrils that are usually positioned inferior, and they lack a septal ridge. Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot) Sternotherus odoratus. It is most abundant in the latter. Blanding’s Turtles normally dwell in marshes. Subspecies: Two subspecies are currently recognized, Gulf Coast Smooth Softshell, A. m. calvata (Webb, 1959) and Midland Smooth Softshell, A. m. mutica. It particularly likes rivers with sandy bottoms where you might find it eating fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Occurrences suggest the Smooth Softshell's distribution in Illinois is the same as or substantially similar to historical times. Status: Endangered. Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle in water at The Grove National Landmark Glenview Illinois 602146 Apalone spinifera. Despite their preference for riverine systems, smooth softshell turtles have also been found in lakes, bogs, ponds, and drainage ditches. Illinois Natural History Survey • Prairie Research Institute. Illinois Mud Turtle Kinosternon flavescens spooneri. The color will usually range from olive-gray to dark brown. smooth softshell (Apalone mutica) and spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). 2001). Key Characters: Anterior edge of carapace lacking spines or tubercles; snout with rounded tip; nostrils lacking horizontal septal projections. The Smooth Softshell Turtle. The spiny softshell turtle occurs throughout the state in lakes, sloughs, mud-bottomed streams, and sand-bottomed rivers. Spatial ecological information is lacking for many river turtles including the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica), a species inhabiting the Midwestern United States. The shell lacks any distinct bumps or coloration. The two parts of the turtle shell are the carapace which includes the vertebrae and ribs and the plastron made up of the clavicles (collar bones) and abdominal ribs. Declines of the latter three can be attributed in part to loss of wetlands. Smooth Softshell Turtle. Common Name - Smooth Softshell Turtle Category - Reptiles Scientific Name - Apalone mutica Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Class - Reptilia Order - Testudines Family - Trionychidae Genus - Apalone Species - muticus SubSpecies. These turtles are members of the family Trionychidae, which has a total of two representatives in Indiana. 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). The Kaskaskia River supports a diverse turtle community, with the spiny softshell and Ouachita map turtle as the main competitors of the smooth softshell. The Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica) inhabits sandy rivers throughout the Midwest United States. For instance, the Florida softshell turtle can weigh over 40 pounds and reach over 2 feet long, requiring a large area to swim. Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) on white. 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). Smooth Softshells make very good community turtles. Email the Web Administrator with questions or comments. Compared to other turtle species, the smooth softshell turtles are large. It is most abundant in the latter. Description: The Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle is a rather plain looking softshell turtle. Spatial ecological information is lacking for many river turtles including the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica), a species inhabiting the Midwestern United States. Male smaller than female and has a larger, thicker tail with vent opening beyond rear edge of carapace. 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).