Answer: Spiny Softshell Turtle
Spiny softshell turtles live in fresh-water habitats such as rivers, lakes, and marshes
and bury themselves in mud to overwinter. They are called “softshell” turtles because they do
not have the hard scales called scutes on the exterior of their carapace. Instead, their carapace
is soft and leathery. This is a model of the Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera) created by
Academy staff sometime between 1930-1945.
Thanks for playing this quiz! Have any questions on the answers or want to know something about any of these species? Let us know! Don’t forget you can explore all of our online resources, workshops, downloadable science workbooks, and more here.