Loggerhead musk turtle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:12, 3 December 2021

Revision as of 18:12, 3 December 2021

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Currently, the [[conservation status]] of the loggerhead musk turtle is [[Least-concern species|least concern]] and its common threats include [[Habitat destruction|habitat loss]] and human interactions such as car or boating accidents.<ref name=":2" />

==Description andDescription Differences==

==Geographic distribution==

The loggerhead musk turtle gets its [[common name]] from its unusually large head, compared to the common musk turtle (''[[Sternotherus odoratus]]''). Its head has a light colored background with dark spots/stripes. Hatchlings are about 1 inch in carapace length and grow up to around 3 to 5 inches by adulthood. As juveniles, these [[Turtle|turtles]] have three keels on their [[carapace]] that usually disappear by adulthood. The loggerhead musk turtle has [[Barbel (anatomy)|barbels]] present on the chin only, not on the throat.

Within the southeastern United States, the loggerhead musk turtle can be found in [[Alabama]], northern [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], extreme southeastern [[Kentucky]], extreme eastern [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], extreme western [[North Carolina]], eastern [[Tennessee]], and extreme southwestern [[Virginia]].<ref name=Powell>[[Robert Powell (herpetologist)|Powell R]], [[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]], [[Joseph T. Collins|Collins JT]] (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 Plates, 207 Figures. {{ISBN|978-0-544-12997-9}}. (''Sternotherus minor'', pp. 227-228, Figure 104 + Plates 19, 21 + photo on p. ix).</ref>

=== Subspecies ===

==Description and Differences==

There are two [[subspecies]] of ''Sternotherus minor'': ''Sternotherus minor minor'' and ''Sternotherus minor peltifer'', also known as the loggerhead musk turtle and the stripe-necked musk turtle, respectively. The two subspecies are visibly different, with ''S. m. minor'' having a darker tan colored head covered with dark spots and three keels on its [[carapace]] and ''S. m. peltifer'' having a yellow colored head with some dark spots, but mostly dark stripes and a ridged carapace. ''S. m. minor'' are generally a little larger in size than ''S. m. peltifer'' ranging from 3 to 5.625 inches (7.5 to 14.5 cm) in carapace length, while ''S. m. peltifer'' range from 3 to 4.625 inches (7.5 to 11.7 cm).

[[File:Sternothernus minor.jpg|thumb|Closeup of head of an adult ''Sternotherus minor'']]

==Geographic distribution==

The loggerhead musk turtle gets its common name from its unusually large head, compared to the common musk turtle (''[[Sternotherus odoratus]]''). Adults can be {{convert|8|–|13|cm|in|round=0.5|abbr=on}} in straight [[carapace]] length. It is very similar to the [[Razor-backed musk turtle|razorback musk turtle]] (''Sternotherus carinatus'') which is slightly larger. Adult loggerhead musk turtles have a flatter-shaped carapace, whereas adult razorback musk turtles have a higher and more dome-shaped carapace. ''S. minor'' has barbels present on the chin only, not on the throat.<ref>Conant R (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. {{ISBN|0-395-19977-8}}. (''Sternotherus minor'', p. 42 + Plates 4,5 + Map 8).</ref>

Within the southeastern United States, the loggerhead musk turtle can be found in [[Alabama]], northern [[Florida]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], extreme southeastern [[Kentucky]], extreme eastern [[Louisiana]], [[Mississippi]], extreme western [[North Carolina]], eastern [[Tennessee]], and extreme southwestern [[Virginia]].<ref name=Powell>[[Robert Powell (herpetologist)|Powell R]], [[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]], [[Joseph T. Collins|Collins JT]] (2016). ''Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition''. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 Plates, 207 Figures. {{ISBN|978-0-544-12997-9}}. (''Sternotherus minor'', pp. 227-228, Figure 104 + Plates 19, 21 + photo on p. ix).</ref>[[File:Sternothernus minor.jpg|thumb|Closeup of head of an adult ''Sternotherus minor'']]

==Habitat==