Searching for an unusual animal? Looking for a “wild” topic for light conversation or banter to break the ice? Talk about spiny softshell turtles, and you’re sure to have someone’s rapt attention. Spiny softshells look like greenish tan pancakes with legs. They have a long neck, a pig-like snorkel nose and most interesting of all – cloacal respiration. What is cloacal respiration? As our English speaking brethren across the pond would say, spiny softshells can breathe through their bums.
You might be wondering why an animal might need such an unusual adaptation. Unlike most turtles, which have hard, bony shells, the spiny softshell has a soft, leathery shell with small spines on the edges. Their feet are fully webbed, and they are strong swimmers, but they are very vulnerable to predators, especially on land. So, they spend most of their time in the water. They do bask on sand or mud bars or on large logs and rocks, but always at the water’s edge so they can quickly dash into the water. They typically spend most of their time hiding in the sand or gravel at the bottom of a lake or river, staying out of sight of predators, resting, or stalking prey. It takes a lot of air to stay underwater for long periods, so they take in air through their nose, absorb some oxygen through their skin, and have pair of air sacs connected to the cloaca which can absorb oxygen from the water.
Female softshells are about twice as big as the males. Adult males have a yellowish or greenish shell that feels like sandpaper, is covered with dark circles, and is five to nine inches long. The females’ shells are drabber and smoother, have dark blotches, and can reach 18 inches in length.
These turtles are active from April and to late September and October. They hunt during the day and eat crayfish, insects, tadpoles and occasionally small fish. At night, they sleep underwater buried in sand or mud. Softshells start mating and laying eggs as soon as May and may lay a second nest before the end of July. Their courtship ritual includes also a bit of neck biting and chasing, waving their feet, extending their necks, and shaking their heads. Females usually dig nests on sand bars that get lots of sunlight. They usually lay 12 to 32 eggs that are about the size and shape of ping-pong balls. Many of the eggs are dug up and eaten by carnivores, but those that remain hatch in August or September.
Where to Look
Look for spiny softshell turtles in eastern Colorado below 5500 feet in rivers, streams, and large lakes with sandy or muddy bottoms.