Arizona mud turtle

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Arizona mud turtle
Kinosternon arizonense.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Kinosternidae
Genus: Kinosternon
Species:
K. stejnegeri
Binomial name
Kinosternon stejnegeri
(Gilmore, 1923)
Synonyms [2]
  • Kinosternon arizonenseGilmore, 1922
  • Kinosternon flavescens stejnegeriHartweg, 1938
  • Kinosternon arizoneneseIverson, 1978(ex errore)
  • Kinosternon flavescens arizonenseIverson, 1979

The Arizona mud turtle (Kinosternon stejnegeri) [3] is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae found in the deserts of Arizona (United States) [4] and Sonora (Mexico). It is a semi-aquatic turtle. [5] [6] It lives in impermanent puddles, and avoids permanent rivers and lakes. [7]

Contents

The male adult Arizona mud turtle is 103–181.3 mm (4.06–7.14 in) long, and the female is slightly smaller. [3] The turtle's top shell is brown and olive brown with a dome shaped appearance. [6] The skin is brown, dark silver on top, and light yellow on bottom of the head. [6] There are no patterns on the extremities. [6]

The turtle's diet includes frogs, tadpoles, invertebrates and carrion. [8] During winter the Arizona mud turtle hibernates under the temporary puddle and pond. [7]

The growth cycle begins in July and early August when the turtle starts laying eggs. [6]

Description

The male adult Arizona mud turtle is 103–181.3 mm (4.06–7.14 in) long, and the female is 95.5–167.3 mm (3.76–6.59 in) long. [7] The turtle's body varies in color. The carapace (upper portion of the shell) is dome shaped and tends to be brown, olive or a yellow-brown in color. [8] [6] The carapace also lacks keels. [6] The marginal shield, which can be described as the rim around the shell, is yellow, [8] As is the lower portion of the shell, the plastron. [8] The top of the head is grey in color, and the bottom and sides are cream and light yellow. [6] Unlike other species of turtles, the first vertebral scute and second marginal shield do not connect. [8]

Habitat and behavior

Arizona mud turtles prefer temporary ponds and puddle because they will have a secure food source. [7] The Arizona mud turtle is active occurs during the day. [8] It is often found near the temporary pond to conserve heat and energy from sunlight. [6] It also is active at night in July and August in monsoon season. Because it is warm during this period, it spends most of its time in the water, and is therefore semi-aquatic. [8] During the winter, it hibernates in a burrow. [8] In droughts, the Arizona mud turtle can remain dormant underground for up to two years. [6]

Distribution

The Arizona mud turtle usually lives at elevations of 200–800 m (660–2,620 ft). [7] It is found in the Lower Colorado River Sonoran Desert scrub, Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert scrub, and Semidesert Grassland communities. [8]

Diet

The diet consists of anurans, dytiscid beetles, toads, tadpoles, fish, invertebrates, hydrophilid beetles and carrion. [8]

Life cycle

The Arizona mud turtle mates primarily in July and early August, and the female lays three to seven eggs. [6] The Arizona mud turtle usually buries its eggs close to food sources. [9] Hatchlings are usually 25–28 mm (0.98–1.10 in) carapace length and have life span from 6 to 10 years age. [1]

Major threats

The species is considered threatened due to ranching, agriculture and flood control in the Sonoran Desert. [1] Its wetlands habitat also exposes it to climate and habitat degradation. [1] Road mortality is also likely to affect this species. [1] The Arizona mud turtle benefits from pond construction performed by humans. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinosternidae</span> Family of turtles

The Kinosternidae are a family of mostly small turtles that includes the mud turtles and musk turtles. The family contains 25 species within four genera, but taxonomic reclassification is an ongoing process, so many sources vary on the exact numbers of species and subspecies. They inhabit slow-moving bodies of water, often with soft, muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation.

<i>Kinosternon</i> Genus of turtles

Kinosternon is a genus of small aquatic turtles from the Americas known commonly as mud turtles.

<i>Sternotherus</i> Genus of turtles

Sternotherus is a genus of turtles in the family Kinosternidae including six species commonly known as musk turtles. The genus is endemic to North America, occurring in the eastern third of the US and southeast Ontario, Canada. Musk glands positioned near the bridge of the shell can produce foul smelling secretions when the turtles are threatened, although gentle handling does not normally provoke a response. Sternotherus are moderately small turtles, with the largest species in the genus, the razor-backed musk turtle, attaining a maximum of 17.6 cm. in shell length. The carapace is characteristically oval and domed, with most species having one or three keels on the back which may become smoother and obscure with age in some species. Musk turtles are generally drab in color, mostly black, gray, brown, olive, or ocher, which aid in camouflaging them in their natural habitats. The head is relatively large and stout, marked with spots, streaks, or strips. The plastron has only 10 or 11 scutes, as opposed to 12, a more common condition in North American turtles. The tail is short, with males having a horny claw like tip.

<i>Sternotherus odoratus</i> Species of turtle

Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known commonly as the common musk turtle, eastern musk turtle, or stinkpot turtle due to its ability to release a foul musky odor from scent glands on the edge of its shell, possibly to deter predation. This turtle is grouped in the same family as mud turtles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The yellow mud turtle, also commonly known as the yellow-necked mud turtle, is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the Central United States and Mexico.

Dunn's mud turtle, also known commonly as the Colombian mud turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oaxaca mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Oaxaca mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Both the common name and the scientific name derive from Oaxaca, a Mexican state. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated this species as "data deficient" as there is insufficient information available to judge its conservation status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East African black mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The East African black mud turtle, also known as the Pan terrapin, is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae, native to eastern and southeastern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert box turtle</span> Subspecies of turtle

The desert box turtle, also known as the Sonoran box turtle, is a subspecies of box turtle which is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are generally terrestrial but occasionally take to the water and are most known for their boxy shell and its structural integrity. The desert box turtles are most active in late June or early July into early October, with greatest activity in July and August.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The eastern mud turtle or common mud turtle is a common species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the United States. There are two recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Striped mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The striped mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States.

The Alamos mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it occurs in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durango mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Durango mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the Kinosternidae family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herrera's mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

Herrera's mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rough-footed mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The rough-footed mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpion mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The scorpion mud turtle or Tabasco mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is found in Mexico, Central and South America. It is a medium to large kinosternid with a domed, oval upper shell 92–270 mm (3.6–10.6 in) long. Males regularly exceed 200 mm. The scorpion mud turtle is a highly aquatic, adaptable kinosternid that will live in almost any body of water. It is primarily omnicarnivorous, a glutton, and feeds on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, as well as carrion and bird eggshells. It also feeds on plant material such as algae, fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds and aquatic plants. In captivity, poorly fed K. scorpioides can be cannibalistic, biting off the toes and limbs of conspecifics. Females probably lay 1 to 6 hard-shelled eggs. Like many kinosternids, they probably construct a shallow terrestrial nest with little cover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Mexican mud turtle, is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. Endemic to Mexico, it is found in Aguascalientes, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, México, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas, where they inhabit moist environments, such as shallow ponds, lakes, rivers or intermediate temp. tropical forest areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okavango mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Okavango mud turtle or Okavango terrapin) is a species of turtle in the family Pelomedusidae endemic to Africa. It is found in Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia (Caprivi), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vallarta mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Vallarta mud turtle is a recently identified species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. While formerly considered conspecific with the Jalisco mud turtle, further studies indicated that it was a separate species. It can be identified by a combination of the number of plastron and carapace scutes, body size, and the distinctive yellow rostral shield in males.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Frost, D.; Hammerson, G. & Gadsden, H. (2016) [errata version of 2007 assessment]. "Kinosternon arizonense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2007: e.T63666A97379712. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63666A12694945.en .
  2. ↑ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 251. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . ISSN   1864-5755.
  3. 1 2 McCord, Robert D. (2016). "What is Kinosternon arizonense?". Historical Biology. 28:1-2 (1–2): 310–315. Bibcode:2016HBio...28..310M. doi:10.1080/08912963.2015.1053879. S2CID   85572922.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ Rhodin, Anders G.J.; Inverson, John B.; Roger, Bour; Fritz, Uwe; Georges, Arthur; Shaffer, H. Bradley; van Dijk, Peter Paul (August 3, 2017). "Turtles of the world, 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status(8th Ed.)" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 7: 222. ISBN   978-1-5323-5026-9 . Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Arizona Mud Turtle - Tucson Herpetological Society". Tucson Herpetological Society. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Iverson, John B. (September 1989). The Arizona Mud Turtle, Kinosternon flavescens arizonense (Kinosternidae), in Arizona and Sonora. Southwestern Association of Naturalists. pp. 356–368.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Brennan, Thomas. "ARIZONA MUD TURTLE Kinosternon arizonense" . Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Ligon, Day B.; Peterson, Charles C. (September 2002). "Physiological and Behavioral Variation in Estivation among Mud Turtles (Kinosternon spp.)". Oklahoma State University: 283–293.

Serb, J.M., Phillips, C.A. and Iverson, J.B. 2001. Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of Kinosternon flavescens based on complete mitochondrial control region sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 18(1): 149-162

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