Kinosternon is a genus of small aquatic turtles from the Americas known commonly as mud turtles.
Geographic range
They are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The greatest species richness is in Mexico, and only three species (K. dunni, K. leucostomum, and K. scorpioides) are found in South America.
Description
They are very similar to the musk turtles, but generally smaller in size, and their carapaces are not as highly domed.
Diet
All mud turtles are carnivorous, consuming various aquatic invertebrates (especially molluscs and worms), fish, and even carrion.
Behavior
Mud turtles live in the ground layer on the bed of bodies of slowly-flowing or still water. By burrowing deeply into mud, mud turtles are protected from danger. They occasionally like to bask in the sun.
Species
Extant
- Central Chiapas mud turtle - K. abaxillare <small>(Baur, 1925)</small>
- Tabasco mud turtle - K. acutum <small>Gray, 1831</small>
- Alamos mud turtle - K. alamosae <small>Berry & Legler, 1980</small>
- Central American mud turtle - K. angustipons <small>Legler, 1965</small>
- Striped mud turtle - K. baurii <small>(Garman, 1891)</small>
- Jalisco mud turtle - K. chimalhuaca <small>Berry, Seidel, & Iverson, 1996</small>
- Cora mud turtle - K. cora <small>Loc-Barragán et al., 2020</small>
- Creaser's mud turtle - K. creaseri <small>Hartweg, 1934</small>
- Dunn's mud turtle - K. dunni <small>Schmidt, 1947</small>
- Durango mud turtle - K. durangoense <small>Iverson, 1979</small>
- Yellow mud turtle - K. flavescens <small>(Agassiz, 1857)</small>
- Herrera's mud turtle - K. herrerai <small>Stejneger, 1925</small>
- Rough-footed mud turtle - K. hirtipes <small>(Wagler, 1830)</small>
- Valley of Mexico mud turtle - K. h. hirtipes <small>(Wagler, 1830)</small>
- Lake Chapala mud turtle - K. h. chapalaense <small>Iverson, 1981</small>
- San Juanico mud turtle - K. h. magdalense <small>Iverson, 1981</small>
- Viesca mud turtle - K. h. megacephalum <small>Iverson, 1981 (extinct)</small>
- Mexican plateau mud turtle - K. h. murrayi <small>Glass and Hartweg, 1951</small>
- Patzcuarco mud turtle - K. h. tarascense <small>Iverson, 1981</small>
- Mexican mud turtle - K. integrum <small>(LeConte, 1954)</small>
- White-lipped mud turtle - K. leucostomum <small>A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851</small>
- Northern white-lipped mud turtle - K. l. leucostomum <small>A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851</small>
- Southern white-lipped mud turtle - K. l. postinguinale <small>(Cope, 1887)</small>
- Pacific red-cheeked mud turtle - K. mexicanum <small>Iverson & Berry, 2024</small>
- Oaxaca mud turtle - K. oaxacae <small>Berry & Iverson, 1980</small>
- Scorpion mud turtle - K. scorpioides <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small>
- Scorpion mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. scorpioides <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small>
- White-throated mud turtle - K. s. albogulare <small>(A.H.A. Duméril and Bocourt, 1870)</small>
- Red-cheeked mud turtle - K. s. cruentatum <small>(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1851)</small>
- Sonora mud turtle - K. sonoriense <small>(Le Conte, 1854)</small>
- Sonora mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. sonoriense <small>(Le Conte, 1854)</small>
- Sonoyta mud turtle - K. s. longifemorale <small>(Iverson, 1981)</small>
- Florida mud turtle - K. steindachneri <small>(Siebenrock, 1906)</small>
- Arizona mud turtle - K. stejnegeri <small>Gilmore, 1923</small>'
- Eastern mud turtle - K. subrubrum <small>(Bonnaterre, 1789)</small>
- Eastern mud turtle (subspecies) - K. s. subrubrum <small>(Bonnaterre, 1789)</small>
- Mississippi mud turtle - K. s. hippocrepis <small>(Bonnaterre, 1789)</small>
- Vallarta mud turtle - K. vogti <small>López-Luna et al., 2018</small>
Extinct
References
Bibliography