Table of Contents
Overview
Brief Summary
Summary
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- Lindeman, P.V. 2008. Sternotherus carinatus Gray 1856 – razorback musk turtle, razor-backed musk turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., and Iverson, J.B. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 012.1-012.6, doi:10.3854/crm.5.012.carinatus.v1.2008, http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.
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Distribution
Range Description
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National Distribution
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
Type of Residency: Year-round
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Global Range: Mississippi and Alabama (Escatawpa River; Blankenship et al. 1995, Herpetological Review 26:106-107) to eastern Texas, Gulf Coast north to Oklahoma and Arkansas; range almost completely within Gulf Coastal Plain (Ernst and Barbour 1989).
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Distribution: USA (Gulf Coastal Plain of SE Oklahoma, C/S Arkansas, Mississippi, E Texas, Louisiana)
Type locality: "Louisiana"; restricted to "vicinity of New Orleans," Louisiana, U.S.A., by Schmidt (1953:87).
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Distribution
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| Distribution of Sternotherus carinatus in southeastern USA. Red points = museum and literature occurrence records based on published records plus more recent and author’s data; green shading = projected distribution based on GIS-defined hydrologic unit compartments (HUCs) constructed around verified localities and then adding HUCs that connect known point localities in the same watershed or physiographic region, and similar habitats and elevations as verified HUCs (Buhlmann et al., unpubl. data), and adjusted based on author’s data. |
- Lindeman, P.V. 2008. Sternotherus carinatus Gray 1856 – razorback musk turtle, razor-backed musk turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., and Iverson, J.B. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 012.1-012.6, doi:10.3854/crm.5.012.carinatus.v1.2008, http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.
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Physical Description
Size
Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Sternotherus carinatus typically inhabits medium to large flowing streams with sand, gravel or cobble bottoms, but also occurs in lakes and swamps. The presence of deadwood, both above water for basking and underwater for retreats, appears to be a significant factor determining habitat suitability. (Lindeman 2008).
Sternotherus carinatus is almost exclusively carnivorous, feeding on aquatic insects, clams, snails and crayfish, with molluscs increasing as a proportion of diet as the animals grow.
Sternotherus carinatus reaches 13-16 cm carapace length (CL), with the record size being 20.9 cm CL. There is little difference in sizes between the sexes.
Animals, apparently of both sexes, reach maturity at 8-12 cm CL at four to eight years of age. Two to three clutches of one to seven eggs per year are typical (Lindeman 2008). Hatchlings measure about 25-28 mm CL and weigh 3-4 g (Iverson 2002).
Systems
- Terrestrial
- Freshwater
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Comments: Slow-moving rivers and streams, swamps; areas with soft bottom, abundant aquatic vegetation, and basking sites. Hibernates in holes under overhanging banks or under rocks on bottom (Ernst and Barbour 1972). One nest was on a steep bank above a river (see Ernst and Barbour 1972).
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Migration
Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).
Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.
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Trophic Strategy
Comments: Forages in water on bottom; eats insects, crustaceans, mollusks, amphibian larvae, carrion, and aquatic plants (Ernst and Barbour 1972).
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General Ecology
Population density was 37/ha in Oklahoma (Mahmoud 1969). Maximum distance between successive captures was 94 m in same study.
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Life History and Behavior
Cyclicity
Comments: Active from about March-November in Oklahoma; largely crepuscular in summer (Ernst and Barbour 1972).
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Life Expectancy
Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
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Reproduction
Reproductive characteristics vary geographically. Courtship and mating occur in spring; females with oviductal eggs found April-June. Annually lays 1-3 clutches averaging about 2-5 eggs. Hatchlings emerge in August-September. Females sexually mature in 4-8 years. See Iverson (2002) for recent data and a review.
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
Red List Criteria
Version
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
Justification
History
- 1996Lower Risk/least concern
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National NatureServe Conservation Status
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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NatureServe Conservation Status
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Status
- Lindeman, P.V. 2008. Sternotherus carinatus Gray 1856 – razorback musk turtle, razor-backed musk turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., and Iverson, J.B. (Eds.). Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5, pp. 012.1-012.6, doi:10.3854/crm.5.012.carinatus.v1.2008, http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/cbftt/.
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Trends
Population
Population status and trend data for Sternotherus carinatus is not particularly comprehensive, but anecdotal information indicates that the species is abundant and stable in a variety of locations across its range; the main exception is the population of the Pascagoula river, where a combination of pollution and habitat modification have reduced populations of this and other turtle species (Lindeman 2008).
Population Trend
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Threats
Threats
Specific populations, particularly in the Pascagoula, are under potential threat from or have actually been impacted by toxic pollutants, deadwood snag removal for navigation purposes, sand and gravel mining, sedimentation, and impoundment. Animals coincidentally caught during fishing may be killed. Some animals, mainly hatchlings, are traded as pets. None of these threats is considered to be sufficiently severe or extensive to threaten the species’ survival for the foreseeable future.
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Management
Conservation Actions
Sternotherus carinatus is confirmed or presumed to occur in a substantial number of National Wildlife Refuges, National Preserves, Wildlife Management Areas, and TNC properties throughout its range.
Sternotherus carinatus is considered secure throughout much of its geographic range and no specific conservation actions appear warranted at present (Lindeman 2008).
Studies documenting population status, structure and dynamics, habitat usage, and other ecological information on the species would be desirable.
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Wikipedia
Razor-backed musk turtle
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011) |
The razor-backed musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) is a species of turtle native to the United States.
Contents |
Geographic range
It is found in the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Louisiana.
Description
The razor-backed musk turtle grows to approximately 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. It has a brown-colored shell, with black markings at the edges of each scute. The shell has a distinct, sharp keel down the center of its length, giving the species its common name. The body is typically grey-brown in color, with black spotting, as is the head, which tends to have a bulbous shape to it. It has a long neck, short legs, and a sharp beak. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their longer tails.
Behavior
They are almost entirely aquatic, spending most of their time in shallow, heavily vegetated, slow-moving creeks, or ponds. The only time they typically venture onto land is when females lay their eggs. When a razor-backed musk turtle feels threatened, it will release a foul odor, similar to a skunk's.
Diet
Their diet consists primarily of aquatic invertebrates, including freshwater clams, crayfish, snails, and various insects. They also feed on fish and carrion.
In captivity
The razor-backed musk turtle is frequently found in captivity, and is regularly captive bred. Its relatively small size, and ease of care makes it a more attractive choice as a pet turtle for many keepers, than the more commonly available red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans).
References
- ^ Fritz, Uwe and Peter Havaš. 2007. Checklist of the Chelonians of the World. Museum für Tierkunde. Dresden.
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Names and Taxonomy
Taxonomy
Comments: The genus Sternotherus was merged into the genus Kinosternon by Ernst and Barbour (1989) (based on protein electromorph data of Seidel et al. 1986). This change not adopted in subsequent taxonomic lists (King and Burke 1989, Collins 1990). However, Iverson (1991) evaluated protein and morphological data for kinosternine turtles and concluded that there presently exists no adequate basis for recognizing Sternotherus as a genus distinct from Kinosternon. Nevertheless, Ernst et al. (1994) treated Kinosternon and Sternotherus as distinct genera.
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