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. Male smaller than female and has a larger, thicker tail with vent opening beyond rear edge of carapace. Only the latter is found in Illinois. Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata ornata They inhabit the Mississippi, Colorado, Sabine and Pearl, Alabama, Brazos, and Escambia river drainage systems. Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle in water at The Grove National Landmark Glenview Illinois 602146 Apalone spinifera. Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina serpentina. Smooth Softshell Turtle. While most turtles have hard shells composed of scutes , the Florida softshell has … Smith (1961) considered Illinois populations to be mainly A. s. Etymology: Apalone – apo (Greek) meaning separate; alone (Anglo-Saxon) meaning solitary; or apalos (Greek) meaning soft, tender; mutica – mutilus (Latin) meaning shortened, docked. The species is endemic to North America. The shell lacks any distinct bumps or coloration. Smooth softshell turtles have a tubular snout with round nostrils that are usually positioned inferior, and they lack a septal ridge. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science (2018) Volume 111, pp. We weren’t sure if the turtle had swallowed the hook or … The Smooth Softshell Turtle. The common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is an aquatic turtle found in mud- ... Illinois has two turtle species not restricted to aquatic habitats and often encountered on land: the eastern box turtle (Ter - Softshell Turtles. 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 carapaces of the females grow up to 14 inches in length. See Key to Illinois Turtles for help with identification. Relationships among members of Trionychidae, and taxonomy within the clade, are still poorly understood (e.g., Meylan, 1987; Engstrom et al., 2004). 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). website. 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. website to learn about the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). 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 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. The spiny softshell is one of the most common turtle species in the Illinois River along with the red-eared slider. Jeremy Gets To Grips With a Bone Crushing Softshell Turtle | TURTLE | River Monsters - Duration: 2:11. I investigated the spatial ecology of A. mutica in two reaches of the Kaskaskia River in south-central Illinois from 2013-2014. Females and males also differ in color. The kind of softshell turtle you choose will determine the size of tank you need. The plastron (lower shell) is white. Smooth Softshell Turtle Description. Currently, the Smooth Softshell Turtle is listed as a State Endangered Species in Illinois and in 2013 we began our research. This turtle's shell is soft, smooth and leathery with no scales or scutes (plates). 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 quickly learn to come to feeding and will liven up any tank. Vol. Females are larger than males, with a carapace length of 16.5-35.6 cm (6.5-14 in.) INHS Illinois River Biological Station researchers commonly catch these creatures in the hoop nets they use to sample fishes. Agricultural runoff, siltation, and pollution are probable causes. The spiny softshell turtle occurs throughout the state in lakes, sloughs, mud-bottomed streams, and sand-bottomed rivers. 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. This turtle lives exclusively in large rivers. Eastern Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera spinifera. Smooth softshell turtles may be easily confused with the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), as the differences between the two species are subtle. Type Locality: “Newharmony, sur le Wabash” [=New Harmony, Wabash River, Posey County, IN], Original Name: Trionyx muticus Le Sueur, 1827. A similar but expanded pair of stripes extend posteriorly from eyes onto the neck. Spatial ecological information is lacking for many river turtles including the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica), a species inhabiting the Midwestern United States. 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). The Smooth Softshell's distribution in Indiana follows major rivers, including the Wabash, Ohio, and Blue. The smallest Illinois turtle is the spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata. St. H. Mem. Here, we need to know their conducive habitat, diet, and general physical health. 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