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==Habitat==
''S. minor'' lives in clean freshwater [[Habitat|habitatshabitat]]s such as springs, [[Stream|streamsstream]]s, runs, [[Wetland|wetlandswetland]]s, [[Pond|pondspond]]s, and [[River|riversriver]]s.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":2" />
== Diet ==
The diet of the loggerhead musk turtle changes as it grows. Younger turtles have a more varied diet, eating [[Insect|insectsinsect]]s, [[Snail|snailssnail]]s, [[crayfish]], and [[Clam|clamsclam]]s while adults eat mostly [[Snail|snailssnail]]s and [[Clam|clamsclam]]s since adults are larger.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" />
[[File:Freshwater_snail_(19512479744).jpg|center|thumb|Freshwater snail]]
The loggerhead musk turtle forages in [[Stream|streamsstream]]s with sandy or vegetated bottoms with varying speeds of currents.<ref name=":3" /> It spends most of its time in the water with less time spent basking out in the sun than 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=":8" /> Between August and June, females can lay up to five [[Clutch (eggs)|clutches]] with one to four eggs per clutch.<ref name=":92" /><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 on the shore, in holes {{convert|8|–|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} deep.<ref name=":92" /> Hatchlings typically have a carapace length of {{convert|2.47|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":92" />
=== Mating Behaviorbehavior ===
In the wild, [[mating]] takes place [[Underwater environment|underwater]] in shaded areas.<ref name=":4" /> Males exhibit several different behaviors during the mating process including: [[Cloaca|cloacalcloaca]]l sniffing, bridge sniffing, mounting, following the female, biting, moving the head from one side to the other, and interlocking of tails.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal|last1=Bels|first1=Vincent L.|last2=Crama|first2=Yves J.-M.|date=1994-08-17|title=Quantitative Analysis of the Courtship and Mating Behavior in the Loggerhead Musk Turtle ''Sternotherus minor'' (Reptilia: Kinosternidae) with Comments on Courtship Behavior in Turtles|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1447183|journal=Copeia|volume=1994|issue=3|pages=676|doi=10.2307/1447183|jstor=1447183|issn=0045-8511}}</ref>
== Conservation and Threatsthreats ==
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" />
Some common threats to this turtle include [[Habitat destruction|habitat loss]], negative interactions with humans, such as being killed by [[Car|carscar]]s or [[Boat|boatsboat]]s or dying after biting [[Fishfish hook|fish hooks]]s, 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|waterwayswaterway]]s within its range are protected by Florida state law. <!-- Also, three states within its range ([[Florida]], [[Mississippi]], and [[Tennessee]]) --> Florida list it as a protected [[species]].<ref name=":2" />
==References==
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