Razor-backed musk turtle

Razor-backed musk turtle

Sternotherus carinatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Kinosternidae
Subfamily:	Kinosterninae
Genus:	Sternotherus
Species:	S. carinatus
Binomial name
*Sternotherus carinatus* (Gray, 1856)

Synonyms^[1]
Aromochelys carinata Gray, 1856 Aromochelys carinatum — Gray, 1856 Ozotheca triquetra Agassiz, 1857 Goniochelys triquetra — Agassiz, 1857 Aromochelys carinatus — Cope, 1867 Goniochelys carinata — Garman, 1884 Cinosternum carinatum — Boulenger, 1889 Kinosternon carinatum — Stejneger & Barbour, 1917 Sternotherus carinatus — Stejneger, 1923 Sternotherus carinatus carinatus — Carr, 1952 Sternothaerus carinatus — Tinkle, 1958 Kinosternon carinatus — Welch, 1994

The razor-backed musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) is a species of turtles native to the southern United States. No subspecies are recognized.^[2]

Geographic range

It is found in the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Louisiana.

Description

The razor-backed musk turtle grows to about 15 cm (5.9 in) in carapace length. It has a brown-colored shell, with black markings at the edges of each scute. The shell has a distinct, sharp keel down the center of its length, giving the species its common name. The body is typically grey-brown in color, with black spotting, as is the head, which tends to have a bulbous shape to it. It has a long neck, short legs, and a sharp beak. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their longer tails.

The plastron is small, with only one hinge which is located anteriorly. There is no gular scute. Barbels are present on the chin only.^[3]

Behavior

They are almost entirely aquatic, spending most of their time in shallow, heavily vegetated, slow-moving creeks, ponds, streams, and swamps.^[4] The only time they typically venture onto land is when females lay their eggs. However, both sexes bask often.

Diet

Their diets consist primarily of aquatic invertebrates, including freshwater clams, crayfish, snails, and various insects. They also feed on fish and carrion.

In captivity

The razor-backed musk turtle is frequently kept in captivity, and is regularly captive bred. Its relatively small size, and ease of care makes it a more attractive choice as a pet turtle for many keepers, than the more commonly available red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).

References

↑ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 262. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org
↑ Conant R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19977-8. (Sternotherus carinatus, pp. 41, 46 (Fig. 7) + Plate 4 + Map 9).
↑ Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Sternotherus carinatus, pp. 28-29).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sternotherus carinatus.

Wikispecies has information related to: Sternotherus carinatus

External links

Turtle family Kinosternidae

Genus	Species of the subfamily Kinosterninae

Kinosternon	Alamos mud turtle Arizona mud turtle Central American mud turtle Creaser's mud turtle Dunn's mud turtle Durango mud turtle Eastern mud turtle Herrera's mud turtle Jalisco mud turtle Mexican mud turtle Oaxaca mud turtle Rough-footed mud turtle Scorpion mud turtle Sonora mud turtle Striped mud turtle Tabasco mud turtle White-lipped mud turtle Yellow mud turtle

Sternotherus	Common musk turtle Flattened musk turtle Loggerhead musk turtle Razor-backed musk turtle

Genus	Species of the subfamily Staurotypinae

Claudius	Narrow-bridged musk turtle

Staurotypus	Giant musk turtle Mexican musk turtle

Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2011 update: annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status.

Extant turtle taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Chelonii or Testudines

Suborder

Superfamily

Family

Subfamily	Genus

Cryptodira

Chelydridae

	Chelydra Macrochelys

Chelonioidea

Cheloniidae

Carettinae	Caretta Lepidochelys

Cheloniinae	Chelonia Eretmochelys Natator

Dermochelyidae

	Dermochelys

Kinosternoidea

Dermatemydidae

	Dermatemys

Kinosternidae

Kinosterninae	Kinosternon Sternotherus

Staurotypinae	Claudius Staurotypus

Testudinoidea

Emydidae

Deirochelyinae	Chrysemys Deirochelys Graptemys Malaclemys Pseudemys Trachemys

Emydinae	Clemmys Emys Glyptemys Terrapene

Geoemydidae

Geoemydinae	Batagur Cuora Cyclemys Geoclemys Geoemyda Hardella Heosemys Leucocephalon Malayemys Mauremys Melanochelys Morenia Notochelys Orlitia Pangshura Sacalia Siebenrockiella Vijayachelys

Rhinoclemmydinae	Rhinoclemmys

Platysternidae

	Platysternon

Testudinidae

	Aldabrachelys Astrochelys Chelonoidis Chersina Cylindraspis Geochelone Gopherus Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria Psammobates Pyxis Stigmochelys Testudo

Trionychia

Carettochelyidae

	Carettochelys

Trionychidae

Cyclanorbinae	Cyclanorbis Cycloderma Lissemys

Trionychinae	Amyda Apalone Chitra Dogania Nilssonia Palea Pelochelys Pelodiscus Rafetus Trionyx

Pleurodira

Chelidae

Chelinae	Acanthochelys Chelus Mesoclemmys Phrynops Platemys Rhinemys

Chelodininae	Chelodina Elseya Elusor Emydura Flaviemys Myuchelys Pseudemydura Rheodytes

Hydromedusinae	Hydromedusa

Pelomedusidae

	Pelomedusa Pelusios

Podocnemididae

	Erymnochelys Peltocephalus Podocnemis

Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2012 update: annotated checklist. Extinct turtles not included.

Portal Book See also List of Testudines families

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 1/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.