Reptiles
Striped Mud Turtle
Kinosternon baurii · also called striped mud turtles
A striped mud turtle senses danger in its shallow Florida pond and pulls in tight, its double-hinged plastron closing almost completely around its head and limbs, sealing itself away more thoroughly than most of its mud turtle relatives ever could.
Overview
The striped mud turtle, Kinosternon baurii, is a small, distinctively marked turtle native to shallow wetland habitat across Florida and the surrounding southeastern United States. Its unusually protective double-hinged shell, bold stripe pattern, and habit of burying itself in mud make it one of the more genuinely well-defended small turtles in North America.
A shell built to close all the way
While many mud turtle relatives can only partially withdraw, the striped mud turtle’s double-hinged plastron lets it seal away almost entirely, offering a level of protection few other small turtles can match.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable wetland habitat throughout Florida and the surrounding southeastern United States.
Striped Mud Turtle: common questions
How does the striped mud turtle's shell differ from other mud turtles?
This species has a plastron, or lower shell, hinged at both the front and back, allowing it to close itself away more completely than many other mud turtle species, which typically have only a single hinge and cannot seal the shell as fully.
Why is it called the striped mud turtle?
The species carries pale yellow or cream stripes running along the length of its dark carapace, along with additional striping on the head, a distinctive marking pattern that clearly sets it apart from plainer mud turtle relatives and gives the species its common name.
Does the striped mud turtle ever leave the water?
Yes, it will travel over land between drying ponds and wetlands, particularly during periods of drought, in search of more reliable water sources, a behaviour shared with several other mud and musk turtle species facing similarly unpredictable habitat.
Where does the striped mud turtle spend most of its time?
This species frequently buries itself in soft mud or leaf litter at the bottom of shallow water, staying hidden for extended periods and emerging mainly to forage for small invertebrates and aquatic plants.