Creature of the day: Soft-Shelled Turtle 🐢 The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles. The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can adapt to living in highly brackish areas. Members of this family occur in Africa, Asia, and North America, with extinct species known from Australia. Most species have traditionally been included in the genus Trio

Now that is some good hiding! Some softshell turtles bury themselves in mud, where they sleep or await prey. With all but their heads buried, softshell turtles catch passing fish, insects or crayfish. #WorldTurtleDay Video: Ric McArthur, Creative Commons (https://flic.kr/p/avf4Zf) | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Softshell turtles: important in nature, culture, and now some species are endangered. #softshellturtle #wildlifeconservation #savetheturtles #CulturalCuisine | Michelle Reyes

Spiny softshell turtles will hide at the bottom of a river and dig in the sand, mud, or gravel to camouflage themselves. They’ll also do this in the colder months to regulate their body temperature. This spiny softshell, located at our Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center in Branson, loves to dig and spends most of his time hidden in the rocks 🪨 🐢 🎥 Carly Robbs, MDC | Missouri Dept. of Conservation