Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Apalone spinifera emoryi
Texas Spiny Softshell Turtle

Hidalgo Co., Texas
February 22, 1994

These are common turtles in the lower Rio Grande in south Texas.  For many years I went herping at the Santa Ana NWR, which borders the river, and every visit I could see a number of these turtles, swimming just below the surface near the riverbank in places where the willows hang out over the water.