This freshwater species is endemic to the United States, where it inhabits the Mississippi River system, along with other adjoining waterways that empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

Both subspecies of A. mutica are typically found in medium to large, unpolluted fresh waterways, with moderate to fast currents; even in rivers with fast flow, they will swim directly to the sandy bottom and bury themselves, leaving only their nose or eyes exposed as they wait to ambush quickly-passing fish or amphibians.

They prefer water with fine sand or silty, mud bottoms, without heavy boulders, gravel or dense aquatic vegetation.

[6] The plastron is light white or gray, with no notable markings (other than occasional spotting), and its internal anatomy (bones, some organs) may be visible, as it lacks the typically hard shells of other aquatic turtles.

[10] The smooth softshell turtle is mostly carnivorous, eating aquatic insects, crayfish, fish and amphibians.

[7] During this period, adult females of A. mutica lay clutches of 3 to 28 eggs not more than 100 m (330 ft) from water in sandy areas.

The high concentration of lipids also offer an advantage at birth as it acts as a food source until they hatchlings become mature enough to commence feeding.

[14] It is able to stay underwater for extended periods of time due to its long neck and tubular snout.

It often buries itself in the sand substrate at the bottom of a river or pool just deep enough so that its snout barely reaches the surface.

Its agility on land and water makes it a difficult prey item for predators such as raccoons, humans, alligators and snapping turtles.

[1] These threats include habitat degradation, harvesting for food, and an increase in human disturbances at nesting sites.

Additionally, due to its skin's high rate of gas exchange, it is very susceptible to polluted waters.

[6] As a result of all of these factors, the smooth softshell turtle has been listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota and Wisconsin.