Texas spiny softshell turtle
A species of American softshell turtles Scientific name : Apalone spinifera emoryi Genus : American softshell turtles
Texas spiny softshell turtle, A species of American softshell turtles
Scientific name: Apalone spinifera emoryi
Genus: American softshell turtles
Content
Description General Info
Description
Texas spiny softshell turtle exhibits an extraordinary capacity to withstand prolonged periods of oxygen deprivation, allowing it to thrive in stagnant, low-oxygen water bodies. The species is carnivorous, deploying a remarkable strategy for prey capture that involves lying motionless underwater until unsuspecting prey ventures too close before it strikes rapidly with its long neck and sharp beak.
General Info
Lifespan
20-30 years
Diet
Texas spiny softshell turtle or the Texas Spiny Softshell Turtle, is primarily carnivorous, often feeding on aquatic invertebrates. They show fondness for insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks, and fish, with dietary preference varying with age and habitat.
Appearance
Texas spiny softshell turtle is a medium-sized turtle with a smooth, flat and rounded olive-green shell. Its belly, or plastron, is yellowish with dark seams. Its most remarkable feature is a pair of long, elongated jaws that end in a point, resembling a bird's beak. Additionally, its skin, neck, and legs have patterns of small black specks. Males and females exhibit minor size differences, with females generally being larger. Juveniles tend to exhibit brighter colors.
Behavior
Texas spiny softshell turtle is primarily solitary and nocturnal, spending most of the day buried in stream or river bottoms. Its diet mainly comprises fish and aquatic invertebrates, and it uses a sit-and-wait feeding strategy. Individuals are highly territorial, yet territory defense is largely passive.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Softshell turtles Species
Texas spiny softshell turtle 
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