Smooth softshell turtle
Smooth softshell turtle | |
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A. mutica
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Binomial name | |
Apalone mutica |
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The smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica) is a softshell turtle of the family Trionychidae. It is endemic to North America.
Geographic range
It lives mainly in the Mississippi River drainage, including the Ohio River and the lower Allegheny River.
Description
The smooth softshell turtle is usually brown or olive-colored, often with darker dots or dashes. It is the only softshell without ridges in the nostrils. Females are 18-35.6 cm (7-14 inches); males, 12.5-17.8 cm (5-7 inches).
Diet
Typical foods include various macroinvertebrates such as aquatic insects, crayfish, and occasionally a fish. [4]
Reproduction
From May to July, the females lay bunches of three to 28 eggs about 100 m from water in sandy areas.[5]
Sympatric species
Apalone mutica is sympatric with the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) over much of its range.[6]
References
- ↑ Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). Apalone mutica. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
- ↑ ITIS.gov
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ ohiodnr.gov
- ↑ DNr.wi.gov
- ↑ JSTOR.org
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