The subspecies of smooth softshell found in Iowa is the midland smooth softshell, Apalone mutica . The smooth softshell is found in the Mississippi and other large rivers in Iowa. Although nowhere near as abundant as the spiny softshell, Apalone spinifera, smooth softshells can be expected to occur in many of the major rivers in Iowa. Habitat Smooth softshells are found in rivers, large streams, and, rarely, large lakes with sandy or muddy bottoms. These lakes are usually close to a large river.
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 April and 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 Iowas most aquatic turtle species.