Musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
Also called the Stinkpot or Stinking Jim, the musk turtle is one of our smallest native turtles. They get their ...
Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)
Sternotherus odoratus
photo by John White
Species Description: ...
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
Photos by J.D. Willson unless otherwise noted ...
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
Description
Habitats
Habits and Life History
Prey and Hunting Techniques ...
Musk Turtle
The three to four species of musk turtles making up the genus Sternotherus in the family Kinosternidae ...
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
No photo of the Common Musk Turtle available.
The Common Musk Turtle is from the order Testudines. All turtles are testudines (or Chelonia). There are more than 280 different species belonging to this order.
Common Musk Turtle
Wisconsin status: locally common
One of the world's smallest turtles, this critter is often known by its nickname, "stinkpot." Can you guess why? If your answer is, "because it stinks," you're right.
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
Identification: Carapace narrow and high arched; black or brown, often algae covered. Plastron small, with skin between scutes. Snout pointed, usually two yellow stripes on side of head. Tail very short.
Common Musk Turtle Species Profile
The common musk turtle is also called 'stinkpot' because of its ability to expel a rather repulsive musky scent from glands on its plastron when disturbed.
Flattened Musk Turtle
FLATTENED MUSK TURTLE
Photo Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Department of Interior/USGS ...
Stripeneck Musk Turtle
Sternotherus minor
Photo by J. Willson
Description: The stripeneck musk turtle’s most distinguishing feature are the numerous dark stripes lining the head and neck.
The narrow-bridged musk turtle is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Description – Narrow-bridged musk turtle ...
Food
Razorback Musk Turtles are carnivorous. They eat aquatic invertebrates, including crayfish, freshwater clams, snails, insects. They also eat fish and carrion.
This page contains samples from our picture files of the Razor Backed Musk Turtle. These images are intended to communicate the sense of awe and wonder I have for these amazing beings.
Stripeneck / Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor)
Photos by J.D. Willson unless otherwise noted
Under construction ...
Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)
Midland Smooth Softshell (Apalone m. mutica) ...
Musk turtles, also known us stinkpots. seem to prefer deep, still water in lakes, ponds, and sluggish streams with muddy bottoms and an abundance of plant life.
Lifestyle: Musk Turtles are uncommon, but may be abundant in certain locales on L.I. May only be on L.I. This species prefers slow moving, soft bottomed steams, rivers and canals. Can sometimes be found basking out of water. Breeds April to May.
Stripeneck Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor spinifera)
Lizards
Broadhead Skink (Eumeces laticeps) ...
Common Name: Common Musk Turtle or Stinkpot
Scientific Name: Sternotherus odoratus
Wisconsin Status: protected through regulations ...
Some keepers keep them with musk turtles and other turtles in an aquatic environment. They do bask and are often found out on the basking sites or resting at the edge of the pond or on driftwood logs, but seem happy to live in this aquatic situation.
True to its name, the musk turtle emits a strong odour when handled. This scent is produced by two glands, adjacent to the bridge between the carapace and the plastron, which exude a yellowish liquid.
Kinosternidae (Mud and Musk Turtles) Common Name Scientific Name Distribution
Eastern musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Kinosternidae (American Mud and Musk Turtles) Testudines (Turtles and Tortoises) wildherps.com
Index of scientific names, sighting dates, locations
Notes about scientific and common names ...
Dermatemydids are most closely related to the mud and musk turtles (Kinosternidae), based on several skeletal characters, including the shape of the cervical vertebrae.
Sternotherus odoratus - Common musk turtle
Family Pelomedusidae
Podocnemis unifilis - Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle ...
Two other species of small turtles are the American mud turtles and musk turtles that live in an area that ranges from Canada to South America. The shell length of many species in this group is less than 13 centimetres (5.1 in) in length.
The musk turtles and mud turtles (family Kinosternidae) are common small turtles of the E United States, and are found only in the Americas.
striped mud turtle (Kinosternon baurii)
stripe-necked musk turtle (Sternotherus minor peltifer)
timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta)
yellowbellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) ...
 See also: Musk, Turtle, Shell, Snapping Turtle, Reptile
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