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Spiny Softshell Turtle — printable fact sheet
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Spiny Softshell Turtle
Apalone spinifera
The Spiny Softshell Turtle is a large, aquatic turtle known for its distinctive leathery, pancake-like shell, which lacks the hard scutes seen in most turtles. Its shell is round, flat, and flexible, with small spiny projections along the front edge, especially in juveniles and …
Did you know?
- Unlike most turtles, the Spiny Softshell Turtle can bury itself completely in sand or mud, leaving only its nose exposed to ambush prey and avoid predators.
- Spiny Softshell Turtles can breathe through their skin and throat lining while underwater. They are among the fastest swimmers of all freshwater turtles, and their long, snorkel-like nose allows them to breathe without surfacing completely.
What I learned
Draw the spiny softshell turtle
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