Spiny Softshell Turtle
One of the largest freshwater turtles in North America.
Their “soft” shell is leathery and moderately flexible, unlike many other turtles that have a hard shell covered with bony tissue and keratin scutes.
Unlike most turtles, spiny softshells are bimodal breathers, meaning that they have some ability to breathe either in the air or underwater .
They can either actively hunt prey or bury themselves in the sand and wait to ambush prey. They will eat insects, crayfish, fish, algal stocks, other plant material, and mussels.
They can live up to 50 years.
“Spiny” refers to the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the shell.