Mud turtle
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Mud turtle is the common name given to two genera of aquatic turtles: Kinosternon, mud turtles found in North and South America, and Pelusios, mud turtles found in Africa. Some species are kept as pets[1].
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[edit] Description
Mud turtles are known for their dull shell colors and relation to the smelly musk turtles. African and American mud turtles are very different and are not closely related. Their only similarities are in their choice of habitat, both preferring shallow, slow moving bodies of water with muddy bottoms, and having a dome shaped carapace. They can grow up to about 5 inches. They live up to 50 years of age.
[edit] Diet
Mud turtles are primarily carnivorous and will consume almost anything they can catch including: fish, worms, insects, grubs, crustaceans, tadpoles, small berries and even carrion.
[edit] Habitat
Mud turtles prefer damp, sandy or muddy dwellings as their name suggests. They will rarely go in the water unklike Aquatic turtles but they will occasionally go in fo a dip in a swamp or a pond.
[edit] External links
- Yellow Mud Turtle - Kinosternon flavescens Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
 African Mud Turtle, Pelusios subniger |
 Mississippi Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis |
 Scorpion Mud Turtle, Kinosternon scorpioides |
 Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon flavescens |
