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Reptiles
Spiny Softshell Turtle
Apalone spinifera
Authorship: LeSueur
Records
It is the most common turtle in the Box Canyon of Rio Grande; observed there 7 August 2011 by V. Mata-Silva (UTEP).
Sources
[V. Mata-Silva (UTEP); Photo]
Taxonomic Classification
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
SubphylumVERTEBRATA (Vertebrates)
ClassReptilia (Reptiles)
OrderTestudines (Turtles)
FamilyTRIONYCHIDAE (Softshell Turtle Family)
GenusApalone
Speciesspinifera
Recent Observations
Sourced from iNaturalist
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)
nabakerOct 25, 2026Travis County, TX, USA
角鳖 (opens in new tab)emo_youngOct 25, 2026Irvine, CA
Texas Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)justin5186Unknown dateFort Worth Zoo
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)kaelyn_dotyOct 25, 2026Glen Rose, TX, US
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)stacy-pinkyskayakrental-comOct 24, 2026Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Blvd, Pasadena, TX 77507, USA
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)samoeOct 25, 2026Southwestern @ Skillman - E - MB2, Dallas, TX 75206, USA
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)wallmandingerOct 21, 2026Harris County, TX, USA
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)matthazelgrenMay 16, 2023Austin, TX, USA
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)eamonccorbettOct 24, 2026George O'Neal Rd, St. George, LA, US
Spiny Softshell (opens in new tab)luke_naturalist1Sep 6, 2025Greenbelt Dr, Sugar Land, TX, US
Conservation assessments from the following sources:
- NatureServe Explorer
- IUCN Red List
- Texas Parks & Wildlife — Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)
| IUCN Red List | LCLeast Concern |
|---|---|
| NatureServe Global (opens in new tab) | G5Secure |
| NatureServe (Texas) (opens in new tab) | S4Apparently Secure |
| Texas SGCN | Not assessed |