(again) Ontario unravels protections for species at risk, blog, Fall 2016, Windsor to Permanently Protect Ojibway Shores, blog, Summer 2019, Charitable registration # 10737 8952 RR0001, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, International Union for Conservation of Nature. Efforts to save softshell turtle slow but steady, Betrayed! The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) is state endangered and a species of regional conservation concern. Apalone spinifera (Spiny Softshell Turtle) is a species of turtles in the family softshell turtles. The spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera) is Ontario’s only turtle with a flexible, leathery carapace (upper shell) and the only species in the province that can attain a size comparable to that of the snapping turtle. The Spiny Softshell Turtle is endangered in Canada with only a small number of hatchling making it to adulthood. Here is a fairly detailed video going over how to care for a softshell turtle!! The carapace is olive-grey, brownish or tan, and its edges are yellow with a black outline. Although populations within the United States are considered stable, the spiny softshell turtle has recently been listed as an endangered species in Canada. It also boasts a long snout that acts as a snorkel. The spiny softshell turtle is currently listed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada and Endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act and is Threatened under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, 2007. Both the common name, spiny softshell, and the specific name, spinifera (spine-bearing), refer to the spiny, cone-like projections on the leading edge of the carapace, which are not scutes … They are associated with freshwater habitat. Although not listed as threatened in the United States, spiny softshell turtles still face some threats, including habitat destruction and chemical pollution. Adults are killed and eaten only by humans, they have few natural predators. The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) is one of the largest freshwater turtles in North America, with females weighing up to 26 pounds. Fletcher, M. 2002. Unlike many other turtles, their shell is soft, flat, and rubbery. The legs and head are dark green or grey with dark patterning, and along each side of the head is a distinct yellow stripe outlined in black. Spiny softshells mate in spring, usually in deep water, and nest in June and July in open sandy or gravelly areas close to water. Softshells regularly bask along the riverbanks or on rocks. Spiny softshell turtle Conservation … The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera): The spiny softshell turtle is often also referred to as the "pancake turtle" (2). Their large black eye-like spots distinguish them from the rest of the subspecies. Spiny softshells feed primarily on insects and crayfish but may also eat molluscs, fish, amphibians, carrion and vegetation. ! 1-17 pp. Despite being placed on the endangered species list, the spiny softshell turtle has been thriving in the London area thanks to work by the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Scientific Name: Apalone spinifera spinifera Size: 5 – 18.9” (adult carapace length) Status: Locally common in the western part of its Great Lakes range but uncommon to rare and local in the east. Individuals may move up to 30 kilometres over the course of a summer, and daily movements exceeding four kilometres have been observed. As adults they do not have many natural predators, but it is their eggs and young that are at highest risk. Spiny softshell turtles feed on crayfish, molluscs, fish, amphibians and vegetation. The Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a species of softshell turtle that is endemic to China (Inner Mongolia to Hainan), with records of escapees—some of which have established introduced populations—in a wide range of other Asian countries, as well as Spain, Brazil and Hawaii.. The smooth softshell turtle is listed as endangered in Illinois. website to learn about the spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) and the smooth softshell turtle (Apalone mutica). Populations … It takes eight to ten years for a Spotted Turtle to reach maturity, and they may live as long as 60-100 … Charitable registration # 10737 8952 RR0001, Spiny softshell turtle hatchling © Scott Gillingwater, Spiny softshell turtle hatchling © Joe Crowley. Scientific Name: Apalone spinifera Other/Previous Names: Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle,Spiny Softshell Turtle Taxonomy Group: Reptiles COSEWIC Range: Ontario, Quebec COSEWIC Assessment Date and Status Change: April 2016 COSEWIC Status: Endangered COSEWIC Status Criteria: … The species has also been designated as a Specially Protected Reptile under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The spiny softshell turtle is endangered both provincially and nationally, and only a small percentage of hatchlings make it to adulthood in the wild, the conservation authority said. Using the first image above, I'm sure that you can understand how this nickname came about. The spiny softshell turtle is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. Update COSEWIC status report on the spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera in Canada, in COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera in Canada. Their range extends across much of North America from Mexico to southern Canada. Their carapace is smooth, leathery and flat, which is atypical of most turtle species. Fletcher, M. 2002. The young are three to four centimetres long and may not emerge from the nest until the following spring. The turtle species that bask in the water, Spiny Softshell, Northern Map Turtle, and Eastern Musk Turtle, are vulnerable to boating mortality. Young softshell turtles are eaten by raccoons, herons, and large fish. Community fights the trashing of Oxford County. Learn more about reptile and amphibian conservation and what you can do to help these species on our Reptile and Amphibian Stewardship page. The carapace of females of this large turtle may reach 43 centimetres in length, and that of males may reach a length of about 23 centimetres. Males can reach a carapace length of up to 21.6 cm. Spiny softshell turtle nests are often destroyed by raccoons, skunks, and foxes. 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