Size: Females average between 17 cm. and 43 cm. and males from 13cm. to 24 cm.

Appearance: Feet strongly streaked and spotted; ridge in each nostril; carapace flat, olive-gray in color, flexible margins and pointy projections on anterior portion of carapace; head long with a pointed snout, light stripe on each side of the head; short tail; sharp claws.

Range: Lake Chaplain, Vermont through St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Mississippi drainage to Wisconsin, Illinois and Tennessee.

Habitat: River turtle and can also be found in some ponds and lakes where sand and mud bars are available; strictly aquatic except to lay eggs on shore; can be found in shallow or deep water.

Habits: Good swimmer and is often found floating lazily around with proboscis above surface; mostly carnivorous and prefers invertebrates and fish; diurnal, sleeps buries in soft bottom with proboscis protruding out of bottom; prefers well oxygenated water; variable hibernation period but falls somewhere around October to April.