| Striped mud turtle | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Kinosternidae |
| Genus: | Kinosternon |
| Species: | K. baurii |
| Binomial name | |
| Kinosternon baurii[1] (Garman, 1891)[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
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Cinosternum baurii Garman, 1891 |
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The striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii) is a species of turtle endemic to the United States.
Contents |
Striped mud turtle are found in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.[1]
They have three light-colored stripes along the length of the smooth carapace. They can grow to 8–12 cm (3-4¾ inches) carapace length.
Kinosternon baurii is a common species found in freshwater habitats. They wander about on land more than any other mud turtle and can sometimes be observed foraging for food in cow dung.
Striped mud turtles are omnivorous. They eat insects, snails, fish, carrion, algae and plants.
As pets they are easy to care for, readily eating commercial turtle foods, feeder fish, worms, or if all else fails, turkey cold cuts. They tend to have ornery yet strangely endearing personalities and enjoy sunning themselves more than other mud turtles.
They nest from September to June, and the eggs (slightly over an inch long) hatch 13 to 19 weeks later. The hatchlings are about the size of the end of a typical man's thumb and, unlike the adult turtles, have keeled carapaces.
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