The subspecies of smooth softshell found in Minnesota is the midland smooth softshell, Apalone muticus . The smooth softshell is found in the Mississippi, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers in Minnesota. The numerous new records for this species show that it has an extensive Minnesota River Valley range. Although nowhere near as abundant as the spiny softshell, Apalone spinifera , smooth softshells can be expected to occur in all of the major rivers in southern Minnesota. Habitat Smooth softshells are found in rivers, streams, and, rarely, large lakes with sandy or muddy bottoms.
Sandbars are important for basking and egg laying sites.
They seem to prefer larger rivers and live in colonies along certain portions. These turtles are active from late April and early May to late September or October. They bury themselves in mud or sand at the bottoms of rivers or lakes to overwinter. They are diurnal and sleep at night underwater buried in sand or mud in the shallows or among submerged trees. They are one of Minnesotas most aquatic turtle species.