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Project Noah Nature School
Apalone spinifera
A soft-shelled turtle with the typical "flat" shell, that I would estimate was around 15 inches long. There was slight mottling of light and dark green on the carapace. It has a elongated nose, high-set eyes and a longish neck.
This was one of several I saw basking in the sun on logs in a large pond in central Nebraska.
If you look closely you can see the spiny edge on the front of the carapace that gives this turtle its name. Very hard to get close to. I actually low-crawled up to the edge to get these. Fun!!
Spotted on May 5, 2008
Submitted on Feb 2, 2019
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