Sternotherus

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Sternotherus
Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Kinosternoidea Family: Kinosternidae Genus: Sternotherus Gray, 1825

Sternotherus is a genus of aquatic turtle known commonly as the musk turtle. They are found throughout the United States and Mexico. They are very similar to the American mud turtles, but tend to have a more domed carapace, with a distinctive keel down the center of it. All musk turtles are carnivorous, consuming various aquatic invertebrates, fish, and carrion.

[edit] Species

• Razorback Musk Turtle, Sternotherus carinatus (Gray, 1855)
• Flattened Musk Turtle, Sternotherus depressus (Tinkle & Webb, 1955)
• Loggerhead Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor (Agassiz, 1857)
• Common Musk Turtle or Stinkpot, Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille, 1802)

[edit] References

• Genus Sternotherus at the EMBL Reptile Database