246 Fresh Water Aquarium 



nearly parallel, lengthwise over the carapace. 

 The lower side of the carapace shows light 

 irregular markings, where it is not connected 

 with the plastron or covered by the soft 

 fleshy parts of the animal. The plastron is 

 of a grayish blue slate color, dark in the 

 center, lighter towards the head, which is of 

 the same shape as that of Trionyx spinifer. 

 The neck is very long and snake-like and so 

 flexible that it is difficult to hold the turtle 

 without being exposed to its bite, which is 

 somewhat powerful. The head and neck 

 bear a number of lines, light yellow near the 

 mouth and orange toward the inner side. 

 The eyes are large and bulging and placed 

 near the flexible trunk-like nose. The legs 

 and feet are slate colored, the latter strongly 

 webbed and armed with small claws. The 

 Southern Soft-shelled Turtle is found in 

 Florida, ft is an excellent swimmer. 

 While it ma)' find a place in the aquarium, it 

 is more interesting than attractive and not 



