Safety note: Bites — do not handle
The Smooth Softshell Turtle is a large, fast-swimming turtle with a completely smooth, leathery shell lacking the spiny projections of the Spiny Softshell. It buries in sand or mud with only its long neck and head exposed.
Habitat
Large, sandy-bottomed rivers and streams in the central U.S.
Diet
Crayfish, fish, and aquatic insects
How common
Common
Best time to see a Smooth Softshell Turtle
The best time to see a Smooth Softshell Turtle is April–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 518 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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