Sternotherus
Encyclopedia
Sternotherus is a genus
of aquatic turtle
s known commonly as musk turtles.
s, but tend to have a more dome
d 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.
, consuming various aguatic invertebrate
s, fish
, and carrion
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of aquatic turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s known commonly as musk turtles.
Description
They are very similar to the American mud turtleMud turtle
The Eastern Mud Turtle, or Kinosternon subrubrum is a small semi-aquatic, generally freshwater turtle. Turtles are members of the phylum Chordata and the class Reptilia. The eastern mud turtle lives in the southeastern parts of the United States...
s, but tend to have a more dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
d carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
, with a distinctive keel down the center of it. Sternotherus odoratus
Sternotherus odoratus
Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known as the common musk turtle or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor to deter predation...
typically grows to only 8–14 cm (3–5½ inches) in carapace length at full maturity, with females often being larger than males.
Diet
All musk turtles are carnivorousCarnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
, consuming various aguatic invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s, fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, and carrion
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
.
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.Species
- Sternotherus carinatus (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1855) (razorback musk turtle) - Sternotherus depressusFlattened Musk TurtleThe Flattened musk turtle is a species of turtle in the Kinosternidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-Description:These little turtles can be 7.5–10 cm long, record 11.4 cm...
Tinkle & Webb, 1955 (flattened musk turtleFlattened Musk TurtleThe Flattened musk turtle is a species of turtle in the Kinosternidae family. It is endemic to the United States.-Description:These little turtles can be 7.5–10 cm long, record 11.4 cm...
) - Sternotherus minorLoggerhead Musk TurtleThe loggerhead musk turtle is a species of turtle native to the United States.-Geographic distribution:The loggerhead musk turtle can be found in the states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee....
(AgassizLouis AgassizJean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
, 1857) (loggerhead musk turtleLoggerhead Musk TurtleThe loggerhead musk turtle is a species of turtle native to the United States.-Geographic distribution:The loggerhead musk turtle can be found in the states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee....
) - Sternotherus odoratus (LatreillePierre André LatreillePierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
, 1801) (common musk turtleSternotherus odoratusSternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known as the common musk turtle or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor to deter predation...
or stinkpotSternotherus odoratusSternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known as the common musk turtle or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor to deter predation...
)
External links
- Matt Walker, "Turtle 'super tongue' lets reptile survive underwater," BBC Earth News, 20 May 2010.