Loggerhead musk turtle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:16, 3 December 2021

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=== Subspecies ===

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:Sternotherus_minor_peltifer_Jungtier_ca._2_Monate_alt_ventral.jpg|thumb|''Sternotherus minor peltifer'']]

==Geographic distribution==

''Sternotherus minor'' is found in freshwaters throughout the southeast in states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. <ref name=":23">{{Cite journal|last=Dijk (N/A)|first=Peter Paul van|date=2010-08-01|title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Sternotherus minor|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en|journal=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species}}</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'']]

Distribution may vary depending on the subspecies. ''S. m. minor'' is generally found throughout Georgia and north Florida and can be found in rivers such as the [[Ogeechee River|Ogeechee]], [[Altamaha River|Altamaha]], and [[Apalachicola River|Apalachicola]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Conant|first=Roger|title=A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians: Eastern and Central North America|last2=Collins|first2=Joseph T.|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|year=1998|isbn=978-0-395-90452-7}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Iverson|first=John B.|date=1977-08-25|title=Geographic Variation in the Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1443269|journal=Copeia|volume=1977|issue=3|pages=502|doi=10.2307/1443269|issn=0045-8511}}</ref> The ''S. m. peltifer'' is generally found throughout Alabama, east Mississippi, and east Tennessee and can be found in rivers such as the [[Tennessee River|Tennessee]] and [[Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana)|Pearl]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /> They share parts of their range in west Georgia, southeast Alabama, and west Florida and can both be found in rivers such as the [[Choctawhatchee River|Choctawhatchee]] and [[Perdido River|Perdido]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" />[[File:Sternothernus minor.jpg|thumb|Closeup of head of an adult ''Sternotherus minor'']]

==Habitat==

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==Reproduction==

''S. minor'' is [[Oviparity|oviparous]]. Hatchlings have a straight carapace length of {{convert|2.2|–|2.8|cm|in|abbr=on}}. They have three prominent keels on the carapace, and they have a pinkish unmarked [[plastron]].<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>

==References==