Order Turtle | Subphylum Vertebrata Genus Kinosternon Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Kinosternon, Turtle, Reptile, Striped mud turtle, Kinosternidae | ||
The eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) or common mud turtle is a common species of turtle endemic to the United States.
Contents
- Eastern mud turtle hatchling
- Description
- Habitat
- Diet
- Reproduction
- Threats
- Geographic range
- Subspecies
- Etymology
- References
Eastern mud turtle hatchling
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.
Habitat
Eastern mud turtles live in ponds and other freshwater habitats.
Diet
K. subrubrum feeds mainly on insects and small fish.
Reproduction
Mating occurs in K. subrubrum during early spring followed by egg laying in May to early June. Clutch sizes vary from 2 to 5.
Threats
Raccoons are known to eat this species' eggs, while herons and alligators often hunt the adults. This species is also exploited to the pet trade.
Geographic range
Eastern mud turtles are 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.
In Indiana, the eastern mud turtle is listed as an endangered species.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Kinosternon.
Etymology
The subspecific name, steindachneri, is in honor of Austrian herpetologist Franz Steindachner.