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Definition of spiny softshell turtle

spiny softshell turtle

Plural:spiny softshell turtles
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• noun

1

North American A widespread species of freshwater turtle native to North America, distinguished by its flat, leathery, pliable upper shell and the presence of small, cone-like, spiny bumps along the leading edge of its carapace.

Example

"The wildlife biologist gently captured the spiny softshell turtle to measure its flexible carapace before releasing it back into the creek."

• Nearby Words

spiny bush viper
spiny dogfish
spiny lizard
spiny softshell turtle
spiny-tailed iguana
spiny-tailed lizard
spiny-tailed monitor

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Spiny softshell turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/spiny-softshell-turtle
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