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Project Noah Nature School
Apalone mutica
The smooth softshell is a large turtle and grows to a carapace length of 14 inches in females (Conant and Collins, 1991 ). Males reach only half that length. Softshells are most easily recognized by the appearance of their carapace. It does not have the the bony scutes of our other turtles. Instead, it is flat and leathery with very flexible edges. It very much resembles a pancake. These turtles differ from the very similar spiny softshells by having a completely smooth carapace. The nose tapers to a point and resembles a snorkle. There is NO ridge in each nostril, this is the best way to differ a specimen in hand from a spiny softshell. Adult males are usually ]gray or brown with dots and dashes on the back. Adult females are much more drab in coloration and have large dark blotches on the carapace. Both sexes have two light lines on the side of their head; one behind the eye and one that starts under their snout. The neck and feet are not patterned. The sides of the head may have a peach or pink wash. The feet of softshells have extensive webbing--much more than any other Iowa species. Their plastron is quite small and is white with no distinctive markings. The young are about two inches at hatching and are patterned like adult males.
Spring fed lake with boulder/talus in the water.
Spotted on May 25, 2014
Submitted on May 30, 2014
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