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Definition of smooth softshell turtle
smooth softshell turtle
Plural:smooth softshell turtles
smooth softshell turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A species of freshwater turtle (Apalone mutica) native to the central and south-central United States, characterized by a pliable, leathery carapace that completely lacks the spiny projections found on the front edge of closely related species.
Example
"While surveying the sandy banks of the Mississippi River, the biologists recorded several smooth softshell turtles basking in the sun."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive common name reflecting its anatomy: 'smooth' distinguishes it from the spiny softshell turtle (lacking tubercles on the front of the carapace), while 'softshell' refers to its leathery, scale-less shell.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Smooth softshell turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/smooth softshell turtle