Striped mud turtle


The striped mud turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States.

Etymology

The specific name, baurii, is in honor of herpetologist Georg Baur.

Geographic range

The striped mud turtle is found in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Description

K. baurii has three light-colored stripes along the length of the smooth carapace. It can grow to a straight carapace length of 8–12 cm.

Habitat and behavior

K. baurii is a common species found in freshwater habitats. It wanders about on land more than any other of the mud turtles and can sometimes be observed foraging for food in cow dung.

Diet

The striped mud turtle is omnivorous. It eats insects, snails, fish, carrion, algae, and plants. The striped mud turtle also eats dried up krill.

Captivity

As a pet K. baurii is easy to care for, readily eating commercial turtle foods, feeder fish, and worms.

Reproduction

Adult females of K. baurii nest from September to June. The eggs, which are slightly over 2.5 cm long, hatch 13 to 19 weeks later. The hatchlings are about 2.5 cm in straight carapace length and, unlike the adult turtles, have keeled carapaces.