Turtles Soft Shell: Complete Guide

If you've ever spotted a flat, pancake-shaped turtle slipping off a riverbank into the water, you've likely encountered one of North America's most fascinating reptiles — the softshell turtle.

Unlike the hard-domed turtles most people picture, softshell turtles have a leathery, flexible shell that gives them a look unlike anything else in the wild. They're fast, surprisingly aggressive, and perfectly built for life in rivers, lakes, and wetlands across North America — including right here in Michigan.

This guide covers everything you need to know about softshell turtle identification, habitat, diet, behavior, and how to spot them near you.

What is a softshell turtle

A softshell turtle is a type of freshwater turtle belonging to the family Trionychidae. What sets them apart from every other turtle in North America is their shell. Instead of the hard, bony plates (called scutes) that cover most turtles, softshell turtles have a shell covered in thick, leathery skin.

The result is a shell that is flat, flexible around the edges, and almost rubbery to the touch. It looks more like a frisbee than a turtle shell.

Softshell turtles have existed in largely the same form for over 70 million years, making them one of nature's great success stories. They outlasted the dinosaurs and still thrive in waterways across North America, Asia, and Africa today.

What does a softshell turtle look like

The first thing you'll notice about a softshell turtle is how flat and round the shell is compared to other turtles. There's no dome — just a wide, oval, leathery disc sitting low to the ground.

Key identification features:

• Shell: Flat, round or oval, covered in leathery skin rather than hard scutes. Olive, tan, or gray-brown in color, often blending into sandy or muddy surroundings.
• Neck: Unusually long and flexible — softshell turtles can extend their necks nearly the full length of their shell to strike at prey or breathe at the surface.
• Nose: Long, fleshy snout with a tube-like tip — almost like a built-in snorkel, which lets them breathe while nearly fully submerged.
• Feet: Webbed and powerful, designed for fast swimming. Three claws on each foot.
• Color: Olive green to tan on top, pale yellow or cream underneath. Young turtles often have small dark spots or markings on the shell.

From a distance, a softshell turtle basking on a bank can look almost like a flat rock or a piece of bark — which is exactly the point. Their camouflage is excellent.

Types of softshell turtles in North America

There are three main species of softshell turtles found in North America, and they share much of the same range across the central and eastern United States.

In Michigan, the spiny softshell turtle is the species you're most likely to encounter.

Softshell turtles in Michigan

Michigan is excellent softshell turtle habitat. The spiny softshell turtle is found throughout the Lower Peninsula and parts of the Upper Peninsula, making use of the state's extensive river systems, inland lakes, and Great Lakes shorelines.

Where to spot them in Michigan:

• Sandy or gravelly river banks — they love to bask in the sun
• Shallow river edges with slow to moderate current
• Great Lakes shoreline areas with sandy substrate
• Inland lakes with sandy or muddy bottoms
• Wetland areas connected to river systems

In Michigan, softshell turtles are considered a species of special concern. If you spot one on a road, give it space and let it continue in the direction it was heading.

Where do softshell turtles live

Softshell turtles are almost entirely aquatic. Unlike box turtles or painted turtles that wander freely on land, softshell turtles spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, only coming ashore to bask or nest.

Preferred habitat features:

• Clean rivers, streams, and large lakes
• Sandy, gravelly, or muddy bottoms — they bury themselves to hide and ambush prey
• Shallow areas with good sun exposure for basking
• Water with sufficient depth nearby for a quick escape
• Areas with aquatic vegetation providing cover

What do softshell turtles eat

Softshell turtles are carnivores — fast, aggressive, and highly effective hunters.

• Fish — their primary food source, caught with lightning-fast strikes
• Crayfish — a favorite, especially in river environments
• Frogs and tadpoles — easy targets near the water's edge
• Aquatic insects and larvae — especially important for juveniles
• Snails and clams — crushed with their strong jaws
• Worms and invertebrates — foraged from the muddy bottom
• Carrion — will scavenge dead fish and other animals opportunistically

How do softshell turtles hunt

Softshell turtles are among the most effective hunters in freshwater ecosystems. A softshell turtle will bury itself in sand or mud until almost entirely hidden, then extend its long neck just enough to breathe. When a fish, frog, or crayfish comes within range, the turtle lunges with explosive speed — faster than the human eye can easily follow.

Softshells also actively search for food, probing sandy and muddy bottoms with their sensitive snout to detect buried invertebrates. In the water they are among the fastest freshwater turtles in North America.

Softshell vs hard shell turtle

How big do softshell turtles get

Females grow significantly larger than males. A large female spiny softshell in Michigan can reach 18 inches across the shell — about the size of a large pizza.

How long do softshell turtles live

• Average lifespan in the wild: 20–50 years
• Maximum recorded lifespan: Over 50 years
• Age at sexual maturity: 8–10 years for females, 4–5 years for males

The long lifespan and late maturity of softshell turtles is one reason their populations are sensitive to human disturbance. Protecting adult females is critical for population health.

Do softshell turtles bite

If you find a softshell turtle on a road, you can help it cross safely by encouraging it to move in the direction it was already heading — use a stick or a car floor mat to gently guide it. Don't pick it up by the shell edges.

Softshell turtle eggs and nesting

Softshell turtles nest once per year in late spring to early summer — typically May through July in Michigan.

• Nesting sites: Sandy riverbanks, gravel bars, open sandy areas near water
• Clutch size: 4–35 eggs per clutch depending on the size of the female
• Egg shape: Round, hard-shelled, about the size of a ping pong ball
• Incubation: 60–80 days, depending on temperature

Nests are heavily predated by raccoons, skunks, foxes, and crows. In some areas, the majority of nests are lost to predation before the eggs hatch.

Baby softshell turtles

Baby softshell turtles hatch in late summer or early fall — typically August through October. They are tiny, vulnerable, and fascinating.

• Shell about the size of a quarter to a half dollar when hatched
• Olive green with small dark spots — better camouflage than adults
• Already have the distinctive flat shell and long snout
• Fully formed and independent from the moment they hatch

If you find a baby softshell turtle, the best thing you can do is leave it alone. Hatchlings are instinctively drawn toward water and don't need your help.

Are softshell turtles endangered

Softshell turtles are not federally endangered in the United States, but in Michigan the spiny softshell turtle is listed as a species of special concern by the Michigan DNR.

Main threats:

• Road mortality — females killed crossing roads to reach nesting sites
• Habitat loss — development along riverbanks removes nesting habitat
• Water quality — pollution affects the fish and invertebrates they depend on
• Nest predation — high raccoon populations in suburban areas increase nest losses

How to attract turtles to your pond

If you have a pond or live near a river, here's how to make your property more welcoming to native turtles:

• Add a partially submerged log or flat rock near the water's edge for basking
• Maintain sandy or gravelly open areas near the water's edge for nesting
• Avoid mowing right to the water — leave natural buffer zones
• Minimize fertilizer and pesticide use near water
• Plant native vegetation along banks to filter runoff

Frequently asked questions

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This guide was created by Private Lands Wildlife Habitat Initiative, managing a 30-acre wildlife habitat in Michigan. Learn more about our conservation work or support our mission.

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• Michigan DNR

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