Their brownish to gray-brown shell or carapace is 16-25 cm long, and has a sculptured appearance.

They are most often found in woods near moving water, in streams with sandy or gravelly base.

Courtship may include a mating ‘dance’ in which the male and female face each other, and swing their heads back and forth.

For nesting, they prefer an open sunny spot, with moist, but not saturated sand. Incubation of the 5-13 eggs lasts 47-69 days, and nest predation is high.

Hatchlings emerge from nests in late August, but only reach sexual maturity between 14-20 years of age.