The smooth soft-shell turtle (Apalone mutica) is a species that is native to North America. As the name suggests, they have a softer shell than other turtles. The carapace (or shell) is made of leathery skin rather than the hard, armored scutes you find on other species.
Turtles Are Terrific!
Updated September 27, 2019. Turtles are easy to recognize reptiles that are famous for carrying their house on their back. They are often portrayed as slow-moving and dim-witted in stories and cartoons. But they are faster and more intelligent than given credit for! In Kentucky, we have 14 species of turtles. All of our turtles are aquatic and live in water except for one, the Eastern Box Turtle.