Apalone spinifera

Description

This distinctive freshwater turtle is sometimes referred to as the pig-nosed rubber-backed turtle, thanks to a long snout that acts as a snorkel and a flexible, leathery shell.  Its olive or tan coloured shell is quite flat, round and marked with dark blotches.  Inconspicuous spiny projections are found along the front edge.  The shells of males and young turtles have large spots with a dark outline, whereas the spots on the shells of females are smaller with no outline. Along each side of the head of a spiny softshell is a yellowish-green stripe.  Females are larger than males, measuring 18 to 42 cm and weighing as much as 12 kg, while males measure between 12 and 24 cm.  Spiny softshell turtles feed on crayfish, molluscs, fish, amphibians and vegetation, and can travel up to 30 km a year.  It can take 12 years for a female to become sexually mature.  Eggs are laid in June and July, with an average of 20 eggs in a clutch.  Unlike most turtle eggs, they have hard shells.

Habitat

Spiny softshell turtles are highly aquatic and inhabit lakes and large rivers with soft bottoms. They rarely venture far from shore and may be seen basking on beaches, sandbars, logs and rocks. These turtles require gravelly or sandy areas for nesting and deep water for hibernating.

Distribution and Population Size

Historically, spiny softshell turtles have been found from the Great Lakes Basin south to the Gulf of Mexico.  While these turtles were once widely distributed in Canada, today there are only two remaining breeding sites in Ontario and one in Quebec.  Their current range extends west to Wisconsin and south through the north central United States to the Tennessee River.  In Ontario, they are found in the southwest corner of the province, clustered around the Thames and Sydenham rivers and at two sites on Lake Erie.  On the Quebec/Ontario border, they are found in southwest Quebec and in the Ottawa River region.  Prior to 1985, the Ontario population was estimated to be between 1000 and 2000.  In 2006, it dropped to between 800 and 1000, and spiny softshells have been classified as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

Threats to Survival

The primary threat to spiny softshell turtle populations is thought to be habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation resulting from shoreline development or agricultural activity.  Other threats include predation of eggs and young, environmental contamination, and injury and death associated with boat propellers and fishing.

What you can do to help

• Make a contribution today towards WPC’s Freshwater Turtle recovery activities.

• Every year, turtles must cross busy roads to get to their nesting sites – watch for turtles on the roads, especially between May and October.

• Never buy native species of turtles or any turtles that have been caught in the wild.

• Don’t disturb nests, young or adults – be respectful and observe from a distance.

• Help reverse the loss of turtle habitat by protecting or restoring wetlands and surrounding vegetation on your property.