Common Name:
Spiny soft-shell turtle
Scientific Name:
Apalone spinifera
Unique Qualities:
The spiny soft-shell turtle is the only freshwater turtle in Canada to have a flexible shell top (hence the name “soft-shell”). These are large turtles that can reach a length of half a metre! But the most recognizable feature of the spiny soft-shell turtle is the tube-like snout that it has.
Can be Seen:
Soft-shell turtles can be seen in southwestern Quebec and southwestern Ontario. There are more in the United States with some seen as far south as Texas and New Mexico.
Likes to Hang Out:
Spiny soft-shell turtles love to hang out in rivers with soft bottoms, aquatic vegetation, and sand bars. They are sometimes found in lakes or marshes.
Likes to Eat:
They like to eat mainly insects, fish and crayfish but don’t rule them out to eating plants either.
Status:
Spiny soft-shells are being collected for food and their numbers have been dropping. Some are also accidentally caught on fishhooks! The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has declared the spiny soft-shell turtles to be threatened.
