This lifeform is found east of the Continental Divide in North America.

Smooth Softshell Turtle (Trionyx muticus = Apalone mutica) is found widely in the Mississippi River drainage as far north as Wisconsin and Minnesota and as far west as New Mexico and as far east as Pennsylvania. This is primarily a species of streams and rivers, but occasionally is also found in lakes. Males can be up to seven inches long. Females may be up to plus thirteen inches. These turtles are excellent and fast swimmers.

Soft shell turtle group (Family Trionychidae) is widespread, but is not found in Australia, Europe, and South America. These turtles are characterized by having a leathery shell as opposed to the hard shell that is present in most turtles. They are a  freshwater group and are excellent swimmers. They rival fish with their ability to start, stop, and turn quickly in the water. Although these turtles are air breathers, they appear to be able to stay underwater for lengthy periods of time. Evidently, they can absorb oxygen from the water through their skin. Certain writers believe that some species of soft shelled  turtles can stay underwater as long as they desire. There are twenty-two different species in the Soft Shell Turtle Group. Although early authors lumped all of these into just a few genera, Ernst and Barbour in their book on "Turtles of the World" contend that these should be properly placed into at least fourteen different genera. Some modern authors now place the North American species into the Apalone genus.

Turtle and Tortoise group (Order Chelonia) are among the most  primitive reptiles. They are egg-laying creatures characterized  by having four legs, a tail, and two shells each made up of many scales that are joined together. There are about two hundred and fifty species of turtles in the world. Carl  Ernst and Roger Barbour published a book entitled "Turtles of the World" by the Smithsonian Press in l989. This work covers all of the known species. The authors note that there are two hundred and fifty-seven species of living turtles. Many of these species are pictured and discussed here.

The following overview of the various families included in the Turtle Order is based on the aforementioned publication:

       SCIENTIFIC NAME     COMMON NAME         NUMBER OF SPECIES
       Pelomedusidae       Side Necked        23  species
       Chelidae            Side Necked        36  species
       Kinosternidae       Mud and Musk       22  species
       Dermatemydidae      River Turtle        1  species
       Carettochelyidae    Pig Nose            1  species
       Trionychidae        Soft Shelled       22  species
       Dermochelyidae      Leatherback         1  species
       Cheloniidae         Sea Turtles         6  species
       Chelydridae         Snapping turtles    2  species
       Platysternidae      Big Headed          1
       Emydidae            Pond and Box       91  species
       Testudinidae        Tortoises          50  species
                                       256 total species

While the above counts are currently reliable, they will be impacted by findings as research continues. For example, the exact count of the species of tortoises in the Galapagos and placement of the Florida Snapping Turtle might change these counts.

Reptiles (Class Reptilia) are an ancient group of scaled  chordates. These scales may be permanently joined, as in the  turtles, or flexible, as in the snakes. Reptiles are land-based. Their eggs are laid on land and the young are air breathing.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.