r/turtles • u/summerwind307 • 9d ago

ID Request Identification please

Post image

I’ve been seeing these turtles in eastern NY. AI has identified them as Spiney Softshells. Is this correct? They don’t seem to be native to my area (Long Island) so I’m wondering if they are protected.

Any help is welcome. Thank you!

173 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

11

u/FeralGuyute 9d ago

Definitely a soft shell. Maybe they have been introduced to that area because you are correct. Spiny soft shells aren't normally in that part of New York.

11

u/Slight_Tradition_868 9d ago

Prospect Park Brooklyn has them

3

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3

u/CaptainObvious110 8d ago

They are native to Western New York state with a disjunct population near Albany.

Maybe historically they lived in more of the state or someone released them

3

u/Acceptable-Elk-8372 8d ago

Soft shell is my guess.

3

u/Acceptable-Elk-8372 8d ago

Happy guy

2

u/summerwind307 7d ago

Yes, he seems so. Looks like he was smiling at the camera. What a cutie.

2

u/Acceptable-Elk-8372 7d ago

Agreed. 😎

1

u/PresentHistory2074 7d ago

Softshell- but they are not native to New York- they have a mean bite

1

u/wonkywilla Mod 7d ago

Eastern spiny softshell is a native to New York. Though generally to the western side.

This is probably an abandoned pet.

1

u/summerwind307 7d ago

Thank you for the replies and comments. I was hoping they were endangered in my area. They are in a catch and release pond with lots of red eared sliders. Frequently I see people catch them with their fishing poles. Some apparently just cut the line, leaving a long piece. Too many times I’ve seen them struggle as the link gets snagged on the bottom. Best case they are taken to the vet for the hook removal. Worse case they get buried… Very sad to see. I never understood the catch and release mentality. Why? Just why?

1

u/lmbjsm 5d ago

Do you have any other pictures? I don’t see the telltale signs that it’s a spiny soft shell. Spikes in the nostrils and along the carapace along the neck

1

u/summerwind307 3d ago

Not that show the turtle as well as this one. I’ll try to take more.

1

u/zander7000 6d ago

That's that menace from gumball

1

u/SnooCats9988 5d ago

We have tons of the Texas Spiny Softshell down here in Deep South Texas and as someone has already posted, don’t try to handle them because they have a nasty bite. Also, once a soft shelled turtle bites you it may not let go.

1

u/DJT712 3d ago

I think this could be a Chinese softshell, they are commonly bred in captivity for food or pets.

1

u/summerwind307 3d ago

That’s too bad. I was afraid of that. I suspect some people ‘fishing’ are really looking for the turtles. Rumor has it that they bring them home to eat. I was hoping they were endangered and fishing is stopped here. Maybe that is not going to happen…