---
title: "Spiny Softshell"
description: "Apalone spinifera — Rettili. The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/it/animal/spiny-softshell
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Spiny Softshell

> Apalone spinifera — Rettili. The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America.

- Scientific name: *Apalone spinifera*
- Category: `reptiles` (Rettili)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Laghi e fiumi)
- iNaturalist observations: 25020
- Wikidata: [Q650232](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q650232)
- iNaturalist taxon: [39556](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39556)

## Names

- en: Spiny Softshell
- de: Dornrand-Weichschildkröte
- es: Tortuga de caparazón blando espinosa
- fr: Tortue molle à épines
- nl: Doornrandweekschildpad
- pl: Żółwiak kolcowaty

## Countries with the most observations

US (20695), MX (978), CA (671), PT (17), AR (13), IT (7)

## Summary

The spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera) is a species of softshell turtle, one of the largest freshwater turtle species in North America. 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 (scales).

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiny_softshell_turtle

## Photo

![Spiny Softshell](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/spiny-softshell/medium.jpg)

Photo: Scott Loarie · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7685918

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/spiny-softshell?lang=it` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).