Missouri Animals Midland smooth softshell   (Trionyx muticus muticus) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Testudines: (Turtles) Native North American turtle Habitat: rivers, lakes. Diet: fish, crayfish, salamanders, tadpoles, frogs, snails, aquatic insects.. ID Features: pancake body, soft shell, long neck, olive colored shell. Natural History: The midland smooth softshell is a large aquatic turtle, females reaching 14 inches in length. It does not bask in the sun like other aquatic turtles. They often bury themselves in sand or mud and snorkel their neck to the surface for air..

The graphics and text are from: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom R. Johnson, Missouri Department of Conservation, ©1992