Reptiles
Razorback Musk Turtle
Sternotherus carinatus · also called razor-backed musk turtle
Along the soft bottom of a slow-moving bayou, a razorback musk turtle forages methodically, its sharply keeled, high-domed shell giving it a noticeably more angular silhouette than the flatter-shelled musk turtles sharing the same quiet water.
Overview
The razorback musk turtle, Sternotherus carinatus, is a small, sharply keeled turtle native to slow-moving river systems and oxbow lakes across the south-central United States. Its distinctly high-domed, ridged shell sets it apart visually from most of its flatter-shelled musk turtle relatives.
A shell shape that stands out from its relatives
Where most musk turtles carry a low, smooth shell, the razorback musk turtle instead rises into a sharp, pronounced ridge, a shape distinctive enough on its own to separate the species from its close relatives at a glance.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable slow-moving river and oxbow lake habitat throughout the south-central United States.
Razorback Musk Turtle: common questions
Why is it called the razorback musk turtle?
A razorback musk turtle has a notably high-domed shell with a pronounced central keel, a distinctly more angular shape than the flatter, smoother shells typical of several other musk turtle species, and this pronounced ridge gave the species its descriptive common name.
Does the razorback musk turtle really produce a musky smell?
Yes, like other musk turtles, a razorback musk turtle can release a musky-smelling secretion from glands near the shell margin when handled or threatened, a defensive deterrent shared broadly across the musk turtle group.
Does the razorback musk turtle bask in the sun often?
Not as much as many other turtles — a razorback musk turtle basks less frequently and for shorter periods than several other turtle species, spending comparatively more time foraging along the bottom of slow-moving water instead.
Where does the razorback musk turtle live?
The razorback musk turtle is native to slow-moving river systems and oxbow lakes across the south-central United States, generally favouring water with a soft bottom for foraging.