Mud and Musk Turtles | Herps of Texas

Kinosternon flavescens

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Kinosternon flavescens

Common Name. Yellow Mud Turtle

General information. This turtle species is mainly diurnal, but some activity takes place at night. Can be seen basking on logs and rocks out of the water. Yellow mud turtles can occasionally be found on roads and/or away from water as they can move between waterbodies; this movement often occurs at night and can coincide with rainfall. During periods of drought or in the hottest part of the summer, yellow mud turtles can bury themselves into the soil and estivate. This species is omnivorous, preferring animal prey (snails, crayfish, aquatic insects, fish, amphibians, and even carrion) over vegetation.

Protected status. The Yellow Mud Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Carapace oval lacking a keel (may be depressed medially) and no posterior serration First vertebral in contact with 2nd marginal. Both 9th and 10th marginal scutes are elevated. Plastron short and narrow with 11 scutes and two well-developed hinges. Triangular-shaped pectoral scutes. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Carapace olive to brown with dark seams around scutes Plastron yellow to brown with dark seams around margins of scutes. Skin is yellow or gray on limbs, neck and head.

General distribution. In North America, the distribution of Kinosternon flavescens much of Texas and the eastern halves of Oklahoma and Kansas. Additional populations are found in Arizona, New Mexico, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.

Texas distribution. In Texas, the single subspecies of Kinosternon flavescens present, K. f. flavescens, is found throughout the state, save the wettest eastern quarter of the state.

Habitat. Yellow Mud Turtles can be found in many slow moving waterways around the state, including lakes, streams, cattle tanks, and swamps. This species prefers bodies of water with a soft bottom composed of either sand or mud.

Reproduction. Nest is May to June. Females may lay two clutches of eggs per year, with clutch size ranging from 1-9 eggs Hatching occurs August to October following an incubation period of 95-115 days.

Size. Kinosternon flavescens commonly reach adult lengths of 18 cm (7 in).

Map. Orange counties indicate new county records since previous Herps of Texas update in 1998; all other colored counties reflect known distribution prior to 1998 for species and/or subspecies. Map is based on museum voucher specimens.

Kinosternon hirtipes

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Kinosternon hirtipes

Common Name. Rough-footed Mud Turtle

General information. Not much is known about the natural history of this highly aquatic turtle species in Texas. Mexican populations of the Rough-footed Mud Turtle are carnivorous, eating crustaceans, snails, aquatic insects, worms, fish, and amphibians. Some researchers believe this species to be a nocturnal feeder, whereas others find this to be diurnal species.

Protected status. The Rough-footed Mud Turtle is listed as threatened by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is protected in the state of Texas.

Diagnostic features. Carapace oval with a well-defined medial keel (two weakly defined lateral keels) and no posterior serration First vertebral in contact with 2nd marginal. Tenth marginal scute is elevated above 9th marginal. Plastron short and narrow with 11 scutes and two well-developed hinges. Triangular-shaped pectoral scutes. Three barbels on chin. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Carapace olive-brown with dark seams around scutes Plastron brown or tan with dark seams around margins of scutes. Skin is tan to black on head and neck, tan to brown on limbs. Reticulate pattern present on head.

General distribution. In the United States, the distribution of Kinosternon hirtipes is restricted to a single county in Texas. Additional populations are present in adjacent Coahuila and south and east on the Mexican Plateau.

Texas distribution. In Texas, the only subspecies of Kinosternon hirtipes found in Texas, K. h. murrayi is only present in southern Presidio County.

Habitat. In Texas, this species is only found in spring-fed cattle tanks; in Mexico, Rough-footed Mud Turtles are found in permanent water (rivers, streams, ponds) in mesquite grasslands.

Reproduction. Nesting season in Mexico varies from May to September. Females lay two clutches of eggs, ranging in size from 1-7 eggs. Incubation at 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) is 196-201 days.

Size. Kinosternon hirtipes grows to an adult length of 18.5 cm (7.5 in).

Kinosternon subrubrum

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Kinosternon subrubrum

Common Name. Eastern Mud Turtle

General information. The Eastern Mud Turtle is diurnal with two peak activity periods during the day: early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The most terrestrial of Texas' mud turtles, the eastern mud turtle can be found on land as well as in the water. This turtle species is omnivorous, eating aquatic insects, crayfish, snails, amphibians, and carrion.

Protected status. The Eastern Mud Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Carapace oval lacking a keel (may be medially depressed) and no posterior serration First vertebral not in contact with 2nd marginal. No marginal scutes are elevated. Plastron short and narrow with 11 scutes and two well-developed hinges. Triangular-shaped pectoral scutes. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Carapace yellow to brown to olive Plastron yellow to brown without pigment. Skin is brown or olive, with pattern present in some individuals. Head dark brown with yellow spotting and pair of light stripes on face and neck.

General distribution. In the United States, the distribution of Kinosternon subrubrum is widespread across the southeastern United States.

Texas distribution. In Texas, the single subspecies of Kinosternon subrubrum found in Texas, K. s. hippocrepis is only present in the wetter eastern third of the state.

Habitat. The Eastern Mud Turtle is found in slow moving bodies of water with soft bottoms and aquatic vegetation, including sloughs, streams, lakes, and marshes.

Reproduction. Nesting is generally May and June, with females laying 2-4 eggs per clutch. Most females lay a single clutch per year, though some females can lay up to 3 per year. Hatching is August and September following an incubation of 90-100 days.

Size. Kinosternon subrubrum is the smallest of Texas' mud turtles with adults reaching carapace lengths of 12.5 cm (5 in).

Sternotherus carinatus

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Sternotherus carinatus

Common Name. Razor-backed Musk Turtle

General information. Primarily a diurnal species, the Razor-backed Musk Turtle is active during the morning and late afternoon, avoiding the heat of the day by retreating to cool water. This turtle species also basks on rocks and logs. Omnivorous, the razor-backed musk turtle feeds on insects, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, carrion, and aquatic vegetation.

Protected status. The Razor-backed Musk Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Carapace with prominent medial keel and slight serrated posterior edge Vertebral scutes overlap. Plastron small with 10 scutes and a single undistinct hinge. Pectoral scutes rectangular. Chin with two barbels. Jaws tan with dark streaks. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Carapace brown to orange with dark borders (especially on posterior edge of scutes) Plastron yellow with no dark pigment. Skin brown to gray or pinkish, often with dark spots.

General distribution. In the United States, the distribution of Sternotherus carinatus is found across eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, southern Oklahoma and Arkansas, as well as populations in Mississippi.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Sternotherus carinatus is only present in the wetter regions in the northeastern quarter of the state.

Habitat. The Razor-backed Musk Turtles are found in bodies of slow moving water, including swamps, rivers, and streams.

Reproduction. Nesting is likely May through June with females laying a single clutch of eggs (average 5) per year. Incubation is 110-120 days.

Size. Sternotherus carinatus reaches an adult length of 17.5 cm (7 in).

Sternotherus odoratus

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Sternotherus odoratus

Common Name. Eastern Musk Turtle

General information. Different than the other mud and musk turtles, Eastern Musk Turtles are primarily nocturnal, spending most of the daylight hours inactive on the bottom. Because of their nocturnal habit, they are not frequent baskers; without basking, many turtles, including stinkpots, have large growths of algae and many leeches. Not particularly picky with its diet, the omnivorous stinkpot feeds on insects, earthworms, snails, crabs, fish, tadpoles, algae, and carrion.

Protected status. The Eastern Musk Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Carapace with high arch but no vertebral keel (present in juveniles) and no posterior serrated edge Vertebral scutes do not overlap. Plastron small with 11 scutes and a single undistinct hinge. Pectoral scutes rectangular. Barbels on chin and neck. Jaws tan with dark streaks. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Carapace brown to black with dark spots in juveniles and unmarked in adults Plastron yellow to brown with no dark pigment. Skin black to gray. Two prominent light stripes on either side of the head and neck.

General distribution. In the United States, the distribution of Sternotherus odoratus is widespread across the southeastern United States.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Sternotherus odoratus is present in the central and east portions of the state.

Habitat. Eastern Musk Turtles are found in slow moving bodies of water with muddy bottoms: lakes, swamps, rivers, and streams.

Reproduction. Nesting is April through July. Females lay an average of 4 or 5 eggs, often in communal nests that may contain eggs from three or four other females. Eastern Musk Turtles can lay up to 4 clutches of eggs per year. Incubation is 65-85 days.

Size. Sternotherus odoratus reaches an adult length of 13.5 cm (5.5 in).

Map. Map is based on museum voucher specimens; last updated 12 November 2014.