Scientific Name: Kinosternon subrubrum
Size: 3-5 inches (7-10 cm) in length
PA Status: Endangered

Habitat Type:
Slow moving or standing waters with soft mud bottoms and an abundant amount of aquatic vegetation.

Colorations:
Adults:

• The carapace color is yellow-brown, olive-brown to black and unpatterned.
• The plastron is yellow to yellowish brown.
• The skin of the neck, legs, and tail is olive to olive brown.
• The head is olive-brown on top and becomes yellow or mottled with yellow along the sides, jaw and chin.

Characteristics:

• Small aquatic species.
• Profile View – The carapace is low and lacks keels.
• Above View – The carapace is oblong with smooth margins.
• The posterior margin of the carapace is strongly serrated.
• The plastron is large and covers the underside, and had two well-developed transverse hinges; one on each side of the abdominal scutes.
• The legs are short and well-developed.
• The feet are webbed between the toes.

Juvenile coloration and characteristics:

• Similar to adults

Confused with:

• Common Musk Turtle

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults

Range Map:

References:

• Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 194-196pp.
• Ernst, Carl H. and Lovich, Jeffrey E., and Barbour, Roger W. ,1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. 167-176pp.

Photo Credits:

• Bob Hamilton
• Billy Brown