Facts about Spiny Softshell Turtle

1. 07

   North American rivers and lakes host spiny softshell turtles that can live 50 years or more in the wild, making them relatively long-lived compared to many other freshwater turtle species.

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2. 06

   Hatchling spiny softshell turtles measure only 8 to 10 millimeters in shell length at birth, requiring several years to reach their adult size of 5 to 20 inches.

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3. 05

   Elongated snouts equipped with sensory organs allow spiny softshell turtles to locate prey buried beneath river sediment while remaining submerged.

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4. 04

   A spiny softshell turtle's leathery shell lacks the bony plates found in other turtles, reducing its weight to enable rapid swimming in rivers and lakes across North America.

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5. 03

   Spiny softshell turtles can reach speeds up to 3 miles per hour on land, making them among the fastest-moving freshwater turtles in North America.

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6. 02

   Females can lay between 4 and 30 eggs per clutch in sandy riverbanks during summer months, with incubation taking approximately 60 to 75 days.

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7. 01

   Flattened pancake-like bodies allow spiny softshell turtles to breathe through their skin underwater for up to five months during hibernation.

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