Loggerhead musk turtle: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:32, 6 December 2021

Revision as of 21:39, 6 December 2021

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The diet of the loggerhead musk turtle changes as it grows. Younger turtles have a more varied diet, eating [[Insect|insects]], [[Snail|snails]], [[crayfish]], and [[Clam|clams]] while adults eat mostly [[Snail|snails]] and [[Clam|clams]] since adults are larger.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" />

[[File:Freshwater_snail_(19512479744).jpg|center|thumb|Freshwater snail]]

Loggerhead musk turtles forage in [[Stream|streams]] with sandy or vegetated bottoms with varying speeds of currents.<ref name=":3" /> They spend most of their time in the water with less time spent basking out in the sun as is observed in other species.<ref name=":92">{{Cite journal|last1=Cox|first1=William A.|last2=Marion|first2=Ken R.|date=1978|title=Observations on the female reproductive cycle and associated phenomena in spring-dwelling populations of Sternotherus minor in North Florida (Reptilia: Testudines)|journal=Herpetologica|pages=20–33|via=JSTOR}}</ref>

==Reproduction==

''S. minor'' is [[Oviparity|oviparous]].<ref name=":838">{{Cite book|last=Powell|first=Robert|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/913923783|title=Peterson field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America|date=2016|others=Roger Conant, Joseph T. Collins, Isabelle Hunt Conant, Tom R. Johnson, Errol D. Hooper, Travis William Taggart|isbn=978-0-544-12997-9|edition=Fourth|___location=Boston|oclc=913923783}}</ref> Between August and June, females can lay up to five [[Clutch (eggs)|clutches]] with one to four eggs per clutch.<ref name=":92">{{Cite journal|last1=Cox|first1=William A.|last2=Marion|first2=Ken R.|date=1978|title=Observations on the female reproductive cycle and associated phenomena in spring-dwelling populations of Sternotherus minor in North Florida (Reptilia: Testudines)|journal=Herpetologica|pages=20–33|via=JSTOR}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Cox|first1=William A.|last2=Nowak|first2=Martin C.|last3=Marion|first3=Ken R.|date=1980-06-06|title=Observations on Courtship and Mating Behavior in the Musk Turtle, Sternotherus minor|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1563862|journal=Journal of Herpetology|volume=14|issue=2|pages=200|doi=10.2307/1563862|jstor=1563862|issn=0022-1511}}</ref> Larger females tend to have larger eggs and more eggs per clutch.<ref name=":92" /> Females lay their eggs in 8 to 15 cm holes on the shore.<ref name=":92" /> Hatchlings typically have a carapace length of 2.47 cm.<ref name=":92" />

==== Mating Behavior ====

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== Conservation and Threats ==

The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature|IUCN]] has listed the Loggerhead musk turtle as an [[animal]] of [[Least-concern species|least concern]].<ref name=":2">{{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>

Some common threats to this turtle include [[Habitat destruction|habitat loss]], negative interactions with humans, such as being killed by [[Car|cars]] or [[Boat|boats]] or dying after biting [[Fish hook|fish hooks]], and indirect threats such as threats to their food sources.<ref name=":2" /> While this turtle is vulnerable to [[Habitat destruction|habitat loss]], many [[Waterway|waterways]] within its range are protected by Florida state law. Also, three states within its range ([[Florida]], [[Mississippi]], and [[Tennessee]]) list it as a protected [[species]].<ref name=":2" />