Spiny Softshell Hatchling
Apalone spinifera (hatchling)
Newly hatched spiny softshells stay in shallow sandy or muddy margins of rivers, lakes, and backwaters where cover is close at hand. They feed on tiny aquatic insects, small crustaceans, worms, and other bite-sized prey. Their flat bodies and mottled pattern help them disappear against the bottom. Even at this size, they can bury themselves quickly and extend the long snout upward to breathe while mostly hidden.
- Type
- Water / Stealth
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- Spiny Softshell Hatchling
- ?
- Spiny Softshell