Description of a New Softshell Turtle from the Southeastern United States

A meticulous field survey of Gulf‑Coast waterways uncovers a soft‑shell turtle that scientists had long overlooked. By sampling rivers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Louisiana, the author builds a picture of a population that lives alongside the more familiar Trionyx muticus yet shows its own unmistakable traits.

Through precise caliper measurements and detailed photographs, the paper outlines how this group differs: hatchlings bear large circular spots, adults lack dorsal snout stripes, and males display a bold, black‑bordered post‑ocular line. The description also notes a smooth carapace without the tubercles or nasal ridges seen in related species. By cataloguing twenty‑odd specimens from major museum collections, the work lays a solid foundation for recognizing the new subspecies and highlights the subtle diversity hidden in familiar American rivers.