REPIILESTOR ALL LANDS 
SOFT-SHELLED TURTLE (Trionyx spinifer) : 
609 
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: sacs 
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Mima BAF 
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Eig | 
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY 
With the young specimens the leathery shell is brightly marked. All of the species of 
Trionyx are edible; this also relating to the cartilaginous “shell.” 
Ditmars. 
a head and neck so wide and flat that 
these members look as if pressed out 
between rollers. In line with this gro- 
tesque structure there is a coarse, ragged 
fringe on the neck, the snout is provided 
with a tubular appendage, and the eyes 
are as small as pinheads. This creature 
attains a weight of 40 pounds. The 
habits are in keeping with its ugly looks. 
Australia and New Guinea form the 
home of the eccentric snake-necked tur- 
tle. The serpentine neck is so long that 
the creature must double it back in lat- 
eral curves in order to draw the head 
within protection of the shell. This 
Photo by Raymond L. 
operation throws the head to one side. 
The characteristic has been responsible 
for another popular name—the “‘side- 
necked” turtle (see page 606). 
Not far behind the two mentioned 
species in eccentricity of development 
are the soft-shelled turtles. About 15 
species are known, forming the family 
Trionychide. The New World species 
are confined to North America. They 
are strictly aquatic and prefer muddy 
rivers. The shell is soft and leathery 
with flabby border, but these turtles are 
by no means defenseless, as the jaws are 
powerful and provided with knife-like 
