soft-shelled turtle
Leathery aquatic chelonian
A soft-shelled turtle is a freshwater turtle with a flat, leathery shell rather than the hard, bony plates typical of most turtles.
The flexible carapace and long snout give these turtles a distinctive appearance.
Several species exist across North America, Asia, and Africa.
They're sometimes eaten as food: soft-shelled turtle soup.
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- ectothermOrganism heated externally
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- leatheryResembling animal hide
- flexibleAble to bend freely
- webbed feetSkin-connected toes for swimming
long neck · sharp beak · claws · elongated · streamlined · proboscis · retractable
Non-saline aquatic environment
- pondSmall still body
- streamSteady continuous flow
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- muddyObscured by silt
silt · river · swamp · basking · swimming · diving · estuary · riparian
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- overharvestingUnsustainable resource extraction
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
wildlife trade · illegal trade · protected · CITES · biodiversity · extinction · sanctuary · breeding program
chelonian
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- ectothermOrganism heated externally
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
webbed feet · long neck · sharp beak · claws · elongated · streamlined · proboscis · retractable
freshwater
Non-saline aquatic environment
muddy · silt · river · swamp · basking · swimming · diving · estuary · riparian · habitat
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- overharvestingUnsustainable resource extraction
habitat loss · wildlife trade · illegal trade · protected · CITES · biodiversity · extinction · sanctuary · breeding program · conservation
pet trade
Buying and selling animals
nonnative · novelty · collectible · terrarium · aquarist · rare · specialty
soup
Cooked liquid dish
cuisine · Chinese · Vietnamese · Japanese · Cantonese · hotpot · medicinal · tonic · collagen · gelatinous
soft-shelled turtlebox turtle
Land reptile, hinged shell
snapping turtle · tortoise · sea turtle · painted turtle · cooter
soft-shelled turtlebox turtle
Land reptile, hinged shell
tortoise · desert tortoise · Galápagos tortoise · gopher tortoise
soften, softly, softness, softer, softest, shell, shelled, shells, shelling