=F) 
NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
THE SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE. 
TRIONYX FEROX. 
PLATE VI. FIG. 11. Younc.— (CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 
Testudo ferox et cartilaginea. GMELIN, Syst. Nat. 
The Soft-shelled Tortoise. GARDEN, Phil. Transac. 1771, p. 226. 
River Tortoise. PENN. Arct. Zoology, Supplement, p. 78. 
La Tortue de Pennant. Davptn, Hist. Rept. Vol. 2, p. 68, pl. 18, fig. 2. 
Trionyx spiniferus. Lesueur, Mem. Mus. Vol. 15, p. 258, pl. 6, a, b, c. 
T. ferow. Savy, Ac. Se, Vol. 4, p.218. Le Conrs, Ann. Lyc. Vol. 3, p. 93. Haruan, Med. and Phys. p. 158 
T. platypeltis. Firzine. 
T. amyda. ScHWEIGG. 
Trionyx ferov. Housroox, Am. Herpetology, Vol. 2, p. U, pl. 1. 
T. ferorv. KirtTLanp, Report on the Zoology of Ohio. 
Characteristics. Dusky brown. Orbicular ; little elevated ; the anterior margin with cuticu- 
lar processes. Fore feet with three squamous folds in front, and two 
oblong tubercles behind. Young, with ocellate spots. Length 9 - 12 
inches. 
Description. Shell entire, orbicular, bony in the central parts, and cartilaginous on the mar- 
gins. The anterior margin in the adult with numerous pointed tubercles, which may be faintly 
and distantly traced in the young. A series of raised and tuberculated lines on the disk in 
the adult. Under a lens, the surface of the shell appears divided into minute compartments, 
in which there are two concentric rings, including a small rounded central elevation ; these 
are barely sensible to the touch. Sternum cruciform, osseous in the middle. Head large, 
tapering acutely to the nose, which is long and flexible, with the nostrils nearly terminal. 
Eyes prominent, contiguous, and almost vertical. Mouth cleft behind the eyes ; jaws narrow, 
partly covered by the lips, which are thickened on the sides. Neck long, smooth, with a gular 
fold. Legs long and slender, palmate, five-toed; the web extending over the two clawless 
toes on both feet, and high up along the posterior margin of the hind foot. Tail short, thick, 
suddenly contracting to a point, and extending beyond the shell. Vent within 0°5 of the 
extremity of the tail. Claws robust, subtrigonal, nearly straight, the intermediate one on the 
hind foot longest. 
Color. Shell dark slate, with numerous large ocellate spots, and with black dots chiefly 
along the margin. Beneath, soiled white. Head slate, punctate with black on the summit 
and sides. Nose light, or flesh-colored ; a white stripe, margined on each side with black, 
proceeds from the posterior margin of the eyes, and is lost in the marblings on each side of 
the neck. Chin and sides of the lower jaw, together with the feet and tail, varied with black 
and white. Inides yellow, with a black medial stripe. 
dhotalilencth) 2s. —-see eee 9°0. ihensthyofashell, == =24- S52 BOG}. 
Ditto of head and neck, .... 3°0. Diameter of shell,......--. 50. 
Dittoyotitail esses se cee Akei7.- Heightiof same,.:-. ..s.ssemlet: 
