Eastern Mud Turtle

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

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
Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton
Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Bob Hamilton Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Billy Brown Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Billy Brown
Eastern Mud Turtle - By: Billy Brown

Range Map:
Eastern Mud Turtle 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