Spiny Softshell Turtle
Apalone spinifera
The spiny softshell turtle is an egg-laying North American freshwater turtle. Its flat, leathery shell lacks hard scutes and has small projections along the front edge; the head ends in a long breathing snout. Specialist turtle collections provide ample clean water, soft nonabrasive substrate and accessible resting and nesting areas.
Appearance varies with sex, age and subspecies. Only the Cuatro Cienegas subspecies, Apalone spinifera atra, is in CITES Appendix I and US ESA-listed under Trionyx ater; the other subspecies are in Appendix II.
Colors: Wild Type
