is this a smooth or spiny soft shell turtle

[hondah23]

? i hope its a smoth shell, caught this fella today while fishing.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Spiny.

 

[Nabbig2]

Did you bait it?

 

[hondah23]

no i caught it by hand

 

[coura]

Spiny

 

[Conner]

Spiny. Look at the leading edge of its carapace, its got bumps. Those will get a lot bigger as it grows.

How big is it?

 

[Noto]

I agree, it is a spiny. Things to look for on smooth softshells: no or almost no pattern on feet, no dark line at edge of shell, no bumps or roughness on shell. The clincher is to look at the nostrils; in smooth softshells they are round, in spinies (and Floridas) there is a ridge on the septum, making the nostrils C shaped.

 

[hondah23]

i am guessing no more then 2 inches around, i am just release it.

 

[Unholy1761]

almost looks like the cute little baby Florida i have to walk buy to buy my feeder crickets then have to tell my self no don't look they'll use there powers to make me buy a potential monstrous female turtle.

but you can collect them now there season start july 11 with him

its always good top release wild caught so you dont hurt there population but its so hard to do lol.