Sternotherus
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| Sternotherus | |
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| Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Kinosternoidea |
| Family: | Kinosternidae |
| Genus: | Sternotherus Gray, 1825 |
Sternotherus is a genus of aquatic turtles known commonly as musk turtles.
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[edit] Geographic range
They are found throughout the United States and Mexico.
[edit] Description
They are very similar to the American mud turtles, but tend to have a more domed carapace, with a distinctive keel down the center of it. Sternotherus odoratus typically grows to only 8–14 cm (3–5½ inches) in carapace length at full maturity, with females often being larger than males.
[edit] Diet
All musk turtles are carnivorous, consuming various aguatic invertebrates, fish, and carrion.
[edit] Behavior
They are a highly aquatic species, rarely coming up to bask, like other turtles. They also prefer a warmer temperature as hatchlings of around 27 degrees Celsius, whereas as adults they like a cooler temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius.
[edit] Species
- Sternotherus carinatus (Gray, 1855) (razorback musk turtle)
- Sternotherus depressus Tinkle & Webb, 1955 (flattened musk turtle)
- Sternotherus minor (Agassiz, 1857) (loggerhead musk turtle)
- Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille, 1801) (common musk turtle or stinkpot)
[edit] References
- Genus Sternotherus at The Reptile Database
[edit] External links
- Matt Walker, "Turtle 'super tongue' lets reptile survive underwater," BBC Earth News, 20 May 2010.
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