Kinosternon

Genus of turtles From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kinosternon

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

Quick Facts Scientific classification ...
Kinosternon
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Mississippi mud turtle
Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Kinosternoidea
Family: Kinosternidae
Subfamily: Kinosterninae
Genus: Kinosternon
Spix, 1824[1]
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Geographic range

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.

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Comparison between the plastrons of Sternotherus and Kinosternon

Description

They are very similar to the musk turtles, but generally smaller in size, and their carapaces are not as highly domed.

Diet

All mud turtles are carnivorous, consuming various aquatic invertebrates (especially molluscs and worms[2]) , fish, and even carrion.

Behavior

Mud turtles live in the ground layer on the bed of bodies of slowly-flowing or still water. By burrowing deeply into mud, mud turtles are protected from danger. They occasionally like to bask in the sun.[2]

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Tabasco mud turtle - K. acutum
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Creaser's mud turtle - K. creaseri
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White-lipped mud turtle - K. leucostomum

Species

Extant

Extinct

References

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