Learn about the diet, range, habitat, and appearance of this softshelled turtle. The smooth softshell is a large Iowa turtle and grows to a carapace length of 14 inches in females Conant and Collins, 1991 . Males reach only half that length. Softshells are most easily recognized by the appearance of their carapace. It does not have the the bony scutes of our other turtles. Instead, it is flat and leathery with very flexible edges. It very much resembles a pancake. These turtles differ from the very similar spiny softshells by having a completely smooth carapace. The nose tapers to a point and resembles a snorkle. There is NO ridge in each nostril, this is the best way to differ a specimen in hand from a spiny softshell.

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