Eastern mud turtle

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Eastern mud turtle
Kinosternon subrubrum.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. subrubrum
Binomial name
Kinosternon subrubrum
(Bonnaterre, 1789) [2]
Synonyms [3]
Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
  • Testudo subrubra
    Lacépède, 1788
    ( nomen suppressum )
  • Testudo subrubra
    Bonnaterre, 1789
  • Testudo pensilvanica
    Gmelin, 1789
  • Emydes pensilvancia
    Brongniart, 1805 ( ex errore )
  • Emys pensylvanica
    Schweigger, 1812
  • Terrapene boscii
    Merrem, 1820
  • Terrapene pensylvanica
    — Merrem, 1820
  • Cistuda pensylvanica
    Say, 1825
  • Sternotherus pensylvanica
    Gray, 1825
  • Kinosternon pennsylvanicum
    Bell, 1825 (ex errore)
  • Sternothaerus boscii
    — Bell, 1825
  • Kinosternum pensylvanicum
    Bonaparte, 1830
  • Cinosternon pensylvanicum
    Wagler, 1830
  • Emys (Kinosternon) pennsylvanica
    — Gray, 1831
  • Clemmys (Cinosternon) pensylvanica
    Fitzinger, 1835
  • Kinosternon pensylvanicum
    De Kay, 1842
  • Kinosternon (Kinosternon) doubledayii
    Gray, 1844
  • Kinosternon (Kinosternon) oblongum
    Gray, 1844
  • Kinosternum doubledayii
    LeConte, 1854
  • Kinosternum pennsylvanicum
    — LeConte, 1854
  • Kinosternon punctatum
    Gray, 1856
  • Cinosternon pennsylvanicum
    Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternum doubledayii
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternum oblongum
    Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternum pennsylvanicum
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Cistudo pennsylvanica
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Terrapene pennsylvanica
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Thyrosternum pennsylvanicum
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternum doubledayi
    Agassiz, 1857 (ex errore)
  • Cinosternum punctatum
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternon doubledayii
    Strauch, 1865
  • Swanka fasciata
    Gray, 1869
  • Cinosternum pensylvanicum
    Boulenger, 1889
  • Kinosternon pensilvanicum
    Lönnberg, 1894 (ex errore)
  • Cinosternonus pensylvanicum
    — Herrera, 1899
  • Cinosternum pensilvanicum
    Siebenrock, 1907
  • Cinosternum pensilvanium
    Siebenrock, 1909 (ex errore)
  • Testudo pensilvanica
    — Siebenrock, 1909
  • Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
    Stejneger & Barbour, 1917
  • Kinonsternon subrubrum
    Liner, 1954
  • Kinosternum subrubrum
    Schwartz, 1961
  • Kinosternon subrum
    Richard, 1999 (ex errore)
Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
  • Kinosternon hippocrepis
    Gray, 1856
  • Cinosternum hippocrepis
    — Agassiz, 1857
  • Cinosternon hippocrepis
    — Strauch, 1865
  • Kinosternon louisianae
    Baur, 1893
  • Cinosternum louisianae
    Ditmars, 1907
  • Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
    — Stejneger & Barbour, 1917

The eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) or common mud turtle [2] is a common species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the United States. There are two recognized subspecies.

Contents

Description

The eastern mud turtle is a small and often hard to identify species. It measures 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) in carapace length. The carapace is keelless, lacks any pattern, and varies in color from yellowish to black. The plastron is large and double hinged, and can be yellowish to brown, and may sometimes have a dark pattern. The chin and throat are a yellowish grey, streaked and mottled with brown, while the limbs and tail are grayish. The eye, or iris, of the eastern mud turtle is yellow with dark clouding, and its feet are webbed.

Diet

The eastern mud turtle is omnivorous and feeds on insects, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibians, carrion, and aquatic vegetation. Smaller eastern mud turtles prey on small aquatic insects, algae, and carrion, whereas larger ones can feed on any type of food [4]

Movement

Eastern mud turtles have been documented to migrate seasonally from uplands that they frequent to wetlands and aquatic movement in their home ranges. [5] In anthropogenically altered landscapes, such as golf courses, Eastern Mud Turtles were shown to cross an average of four different habitat types while emerging during the summer and fall. [6]

Habitat

Mud turtles (genus Kinosternon ) are fresh water turtles that are found in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. [7] They live in rivers, lakes and swamps. Mud turtles prefer ponds that have a lot of vegetation. These animals can generally be found in spring-fed streams, and they prefer clean, oxygenated water. The Eastern mud turtle rarely basks, but in the instance they do, they will bask on rocks or debris floating on the surface of the water. [8] In the wild, they also prefer sandy and muddy areas, as they will hibernate by burrowing into the mud. The Eastern Mud Turtle prefers hibernacula sites about 70 meters from wetlands and that have a large amount of leaf and pine litter and not too much tree cover. They will burrow at the wetland edges at a minimum depth of 1.3 cm below the soil surface to a maximum depth of 3 cm. [8] The leaf litter helps to keep the soil moisture and the temperature consistent, while a more open canopy exposes turtles to higher temperatures before emergence. [9]

Mud turtles can tolerate brackish water so they may be found near salt marshes and on coastal islands. [7]

Reproduction

Mating occurs in K. subrubrum during early spring followed by egg laying in May to early June. [10] Clutch sizes vary from 2 to 5. Clutch size increases as female plastron length increases and they have at least 3 clutches/year. [11]

Reproduction in this species varies greatly depending on latitudinal location. Clutches per year for this species have been reported to be one clutch per year in some states and multiple clutches in others. [12] In a study conducted in South Carolina, clutch frequency in warmer areas averaged multiple clutches, but two clutches per year were the approximate average in cooler regions of the state. [10] The incubation period of the eggs can range from 76 to 124 days. K. subrubrum hatchlings have a wider carapace than the width of the eggs they hatch from, indicating that the carapace unfolds immediately upon hatching. [12]

Geographic range

The eastern mud turtle is found in the US states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. [2]

In Indiana, the eastern mud turtle is listed as an endangered species. [13]

Diseases

In 2014 on the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina the first case of ranavirus in an eastern mud turtle was detected. This virus affects amphibians, fish, and reptiles and causes oral plaque, ulceration, and conjunctivitis in infected species eventually resulting in death. [14]

Subspecies

Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis), Chambers County, Texas, (8 June 2012) Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis, Chambers Co., Texas, 8 June 2012.jpg
Mississippi mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis), Chambers County, Texas, (8 June 2012)

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [2] [15]

The former subspecies, K. s. steindachneri(Siebenrock, 1906)Florida mud turtle, was elevated to species status in 2013. [16]

Nota bene : A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Kinosternon.

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.

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

The Blanding's turtle is a semi-aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae. This species is native to central and eastern parts of Canada and the United States. It is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range. The Blanding's turtle is of interest in longevity research, as it shows few or no common signs of aging and is physically active and capable of reproduction into eight or nine decades of life.

<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">Razor-backed musk turtle</span> Species of turtle

The razor-backed musk turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to the southern United States. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<i>Pelusios</i> Genus of turtles

Pelusios is a genus of African side-necked turtles. With 17 described species, it is one of the most diverse genera of the turtle order (Testudines).

<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">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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loggerhead musk turtle</span> Species of turtle

The loggerhead musk turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. This turtle has a large head which has a light-colored background with dark spots or stripes present on the head and neck. The average size of an adult loggerhead musk turtle is about 3–5 in (7.6–12.7 cm) in straight carapace length.

The Florida mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the state of Florida in the United States.

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

The Arizona mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae found in the deserts of Arizona and Sonora (Mexico). It is a semi-aquatic turtle. It lives in impermanent puddles, and avoids permanent rivers and lakes.

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

The Jalisco mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the Kinosternidae family endemic to Mexico. It is found in Colima and Jalisco. They live in freshwater habitats like swamps or quiet rivers. Jalisco mud turtles reproduce oviparous, meaning the eggs hatch after the parent has laid them. Population size is unknown; there have been less than 20 individuals seen in the last twenty years. The mud turtle is said to be adapted to aquatic habitats, meaning that a population decline is then expected due to habitat fragmentation.

<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.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.98. doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v3.2010. ISBN   978-0965354097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17.
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  4. "Virginia Herpetological Society". www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  5. Cordero, Gerardo Antonio (June 2012). "Long Distance Aquatic Movement and Home-Range Size of an Eastern Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum, Population in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 11 (1): 121–124. doi:10.2744/CCB-0874.1. S2CID   86229741.
  6. Harden, Leigh Anne; Price, Steven J.; Dorcas, Michael E. (2009). "Terrestrial Activity and Habitat Selection of Eastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) in a Fragmented Landscape: Implications for Habitat Management of Golf Courses and Other Suburban Environments". Copeia. 2009 (1): 78–84. doi:10.1643/CH-08-037. ISSN   0045-8511. JSTOR   25512198. S2CID   86634007.
  7. 1 2 Harden, Leighanne; Price, Stevenj.; Dorcas, Michaele. (2009). "Terrestrial Activity and Habitat Selection of Eastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) in a Fragmented Landscape: Implications for Habitat Management of Golf Courses and Other Suburban Environments". Copeia. 2009: 78–84. doi:10.1643/ch-08-037. S2CID   86634007.
  8. 1 2 Plowman, Bianca. "Kinosternon subrubrum (Eastern Mud Turtle, Common Mud Turtle)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
  9. Steen, David A.; Sterrett, Sean C.; Miller, Shannan A.; Smith, Lora L. (September 2007). "Terrestrial Movements and Microhabitat Selection of Overwintering Subadult Eastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon Subrubrum) in Southwest Georgia". Journal of Herpetology. 41 (3): 532–535. doi:10.1670/0022-1511(2007)41[532:TMAMSO]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0022-1511. S2CID   86453610.
  10. 1 2 Gibbons, J. Whitfield (September 1983). "Reproductive Characteristics and Ecology of the Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum (Lacepede)". Herpetologica. 39 (3): 254–271. JSTOR   3892569.
  11. Iverson, John B. (1979). "Reproduction and Growth of the Mud Turtle, Kinosteron subrubrum (Reptilia, Testudines, Kinosternidae), in Arkansas". Journal of Herpetology. 13 (1): 105–111. doi:10.2307/1563764. JSTOR   1563764.
  12. 1 2 Houseal, Timothy W.; Carr, John L. (1983). "Notes on the Reproduction of Kinosternon subrubrum (Testudines: Kinosternidae) in East Texas". The Southwestern Naturalist. 28 (2): 237–239. doi:10.2307/3671393. ISSN   0038-4909. JSTOR   3671393.
  13. Indiana Legislative Services Agency (2011), "312 IAC 9-5-4: Endangered species of reptiles and amphibians", Indiana Administrative Code, retrieved 28 Apr 2012
  14. Winzeler, ME; Hamilton, MT; Tuberville, TD; Lance, SL (2015). "First case of ranavirus and associated morbidity and mortality in an eastern mud turtle Kinosternon subrubrum in South Carolina". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 114 (1): 77–81. doi: 10.3354/dao02849 . PMID   25958808.
  15. "Kinosternon subrubrum ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
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Further reading