Sunday, October 16, 2011

More Midland Smooth Softshell turtle photos...

This is the same Midland Smooth Softshell turtle that appears here, except he's moved in to the sun. Same colorful eye...same water...but now his carapace has color too...

Midland Smooth Softshell turtle (Apalone mutica mutica)
Click here for tips on distinguishing the Midland Smooth Softshell from the Eastern Spiny Softshell.



...the smooth softshell's interesting carapace pattern of dots and dashes (click here for more on their shell pattern).

...as a size reference, you can see how small this hatchling Midland Smooth Softshell turtle is! He's much smaller than my iPhone.


...the umbilicus still shows on this hatchling Midland Smooth Softshell.

For a video I took of baby Smooth Softshell turtles burrowing into the sand, click here.
Click here for additional Midland Smooth Softshell turtle photos.

14 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

wow! he IS tiny! i was envisioning much larger - like a red-eared slider. :)

Montanagirl said...

Oh they're much tinier than I thought! Nice photos.

Jennifer MacNeill said...

I have never seen such a creature, how cool!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

That guy really is tiny, Kelly... You find the neatest things to photograph... He's a cutie!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Carole M. said...

oh an interesting little turtle with tiny spots. Size comparison was very helpful; great idea!

Elaine said...

Superb photos, Kelly! I'm glad you showed the comparison shot because I thought they were bigger.

Sue said...

Good idea using the phone for size comparison. So small. So cute!!

Wanda..... said...

The straight and curved dashes on his shell look unnatural to me, like a child's stiching or a connect-the-dot game!

holdingmoments said...

Fascinating little creature.
Excellent pictures too Kelly.

Roy said...

That has got to be the coolest looking turtle I've ever seen! Great shots, Kelly!

Roy said...

What a tiny and very strange species Kelly.
Never seen anything like that.

Cuby said...

This little turtle is so tiny. What interesting photos.

Kelly said...

...thanks, everyone. This little hatching was adorable. I'm so glad I was able to photograph him. As this turtle matures it will grow. The male carapace length grows to around 7 inches, while the female can grow to 14 inches.

KaHolly said...

I have never seen one before! It's amazing. Love those alligator eyes! And what a funny little nose:)~karen