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Spiny softshell

Apalone spinifera · Turtles · Reptiles

Spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera): Soft, flat, leathery shell without scutes, olive to tan with black speckles; flexible edge bears small spines. Narrow head ending in a tubular nose. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the spiny softshell map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Scientific name
Apalone spinifera
Family
Trionychidae
In North America
Native
Range
Montana to southern Québec, south to northern Mexico and the Florida panhandle, with introductions elsewhere. In Québec it is concentrated around Lake Champlain and its tributaries.
Biology

How to identify it

Soft, flat, leathery shell without scutes, olive to tan with black speckles; flexible edge bears small spines. [1][2][3]

Narrow head ending in a tubular nose. [1][2][3]

Two light black-bordered bands on each side of the head. [1][2][3]

Males 12.7-24 cm, females larger at 24-48 cm and mottled grey. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

Where it lives

Large rivers, impoundments, lakes and pools with open sandy or mud banks and soft bottoms. [1][2][3]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Basks on shores or partly submerged logs; buries in bottom sediment when inactive [1][2][3]

Activity mainly April/May to October in the north; some nocturnal activity in summer [1][2][3]

In Vermont-Québec waters moved about 3 km between wintering and nesting sites [1][2][3]

Eats crayfish, insects, mollusks, fish and amphibians [1][2][3]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Montana to southern Québec, south to northern Mexico and the Florida panhandle, with introductions elsewhere. In Québec it is concentrated around Lake Champlain and its tributaries.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  2. Gouvernement du Québec · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Gouvernement du Québec

  3. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    University of Michigan Museum of Zoology