Arizona mud turtle

This article is about extant species of mud turtle. For the extinct species of mud turtle, see Kinosternon arizonense.

Arizona mud turtle
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Kinosternidae
Genus: Kinosternon
Species:
K. stejnegeri
Binomial name
Kinosternon stejnegeri
(Gilmore, 1923)
Synonyms[2]
  • Kinosternon arizonense Gilmore, 1922
  • Kinosternon flavescens stejnegeri Hartweg, 1938
  • Kinosternon arizonenese Iverson, 1978 (ex errore)
  • Kinosternon flavescens arizonense Iverson, 1979

The Arizona mud turtle (Kinosternon stejnegeri)[4] is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae found in the deserts of Arizona (United States)[3] and Sonora (Mexico). It is a semi-aquatic turtle.[5][6] It lives in impermanent puddles, and avoids permanent rivers and lakes.[7]

The male adult Arizona mud turtle is 103–181.3 mm (4.06–7.14 in) long, and the female is slightly smaller.[4] The turtle's top shell is brown and olive brown with a dome shaped appearance.[6] The skin is brown, dark silver on top, and light yellow on bottom of the head.[6] There are no patterns on the extremities.[6]

The turtle's diet includes frogs, tadpoles, invertebrates and carrion.[8] During winter the Arizona mud turtle hibernates under the temporary puddle and pond.[7]

The growth cycle begins in July and early August when the turtle starts laying eggs.[6]

  1. ^ Frost, D.; Hammerson, G. & Gadsden, H. (2016) [errata version of 2007 assessment]. "Kinosternon arizonense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63666A97379712. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63666A12694945.en.
  2. ^ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 251. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
  3. ^ a b "Kinosternon stejnegeri". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b McCord, Robert D. (2016). "What is Kinosternon arizonense?". Historical Biology. 28:1-2 (1–2): 310–315. Bibcode:2016HBio...28..310M. doi:10.1080/08912963.2015.1053879. S2CID 85572922.
  5. ^ Rhodin, Anders G.J.; Inverson, John B.; Roger, Bour; Fritz, Uwe; Georges, Arthur; Shaffer, H. Bradley; van Dijk, Peter Paul (August 3, 2017). "Turtles of the world, 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status(8th Ed.)" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 7: 222. ISBN 978-1-5323-5026-9. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Arizona Mud Turtle - Tucson Herpetological Society". Tucson Herpetological Society. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  7. ^ a b Iverson, John B. (September 1989). The Arizona Mud Turtle, Kinosternon flavescens arizonense (Kinosternidae), in Arizona and Sonora. Southwestern Association of Naturalists. pp. 356–368.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Brennan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).