They are found in the United States, Mexico , Central America , and South America. The greatest species richness is in Mexico, and only three species (K. dunni , K. leucostomum , and K. scorpioides ) are found in South America.
They are very similar to the musk turtles, but generally smaller in size, and their carapaces are not as highly domed .
All mud turtles are carnivorous, consuming various aquatic invertebrates , fish , and even carrion .
Genus Kinosternon Tabasco mud turtle - K. acutum Gray , 1831Alamos mud turtle - K. alamosae Berry & Legler, 1980 Central American mud turtle - K. angustipons Legler, 1965 Arizona mud turtle - K. arizonense Gilmore, 1923 Striped mud turtle - K. baurii (Garman , 1891) Jalisco mud turtle - K. chimalhuaca Berry, Seidel, & Iverson, 1996 Creaser's mud turtle - K. creaseri Hartweg, 1934 Dunn's mud turtle - K. dunni Schmidt , 1947Durango mud turtle - K. durangoense Iverson, 1979 Yellow mud turtle - K. flavescens (Agassiz , 1857) Herrera's mud turtle - K. herrerai Stejneger, 1925 Rough-footed mud turtle - K. hirtipes (Wagler , 1830) Valley of Mexico mud turtle - K. h. hirtipes (Wagler, 1830) Lake Chapala mud turtle - K. h. chapalaense Iverson, 1981 San Juanico mud turtle - K. h. magdalense Iverson, 1981 Viesca mud turtle - K. h. megacephalum Iverson, 1981 (extinct) Mexican plateau mud turtle - K. h. murrayi Glass and Hartweg, 1951 Patzcuarco mud turtle - K. h. tarascense Iverson, 1981 Mexican mud turtle - K. integrum (LeConte, 1954) White-lipped mud turtle - K. leucostomum A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 Northern white-lipped mud turtle - K. l. leucostomum A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851 Southern white-lipped mud turtle - K. l. postinguinale (Cope, 1887) Oaxaca mud turtle - K. oaxacae Berry & Iverson, 1980 Scorpion mud turtle - K. scorpioides (Linnaeus , 1766) Scorpion mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766) Central Chiapas mud turtle - K. s. abaxillare (Baur, 1925) White-throated mud turtle - K. s. albogulare (A.H.A. Duméril and Bocourt, 1870) Red-cheeked mud turtle - K. s. cruentatum (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851) Sonora mud turtle - K. sonoriense (Le Conte , 1854) Sonora mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. sonoriense (Le Conte, 1854) Sonoyta mud turtle - K. s. longifemorale (Iverson, 1981) Eastern mud turtle - K. subrubrum (Bonnaterre , 1789) Eastern mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. subrubrum (Bonnaterre, 1789) Mississippi mud turtle - K. s. hippocrepis (Bonnaterre, 1789) Florida mud turtle - K. s. steindachneri (Siebenrock ,1906) 
