Loggerhead Musk Turtle
Encyclopedia
The loggerhead musk turtle (Sternotherus minor) is a species of turtle
native to the United States
.
, Georgia
, Mississippi
, Louisiana
, and Tennessee
.
). Adults can be 8–13 cm (3-5 inches) in carapace length. Barbels are present on the chin only, not on the throat.
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
native to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Geographic distribution
The loggerhead musk turtle can be found in the states of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Description
It gets its name from its unusually large head, compared to the common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratusSternotherus odoratus
Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known as the common musk turtle or stinkpot due to its ability to release a foul musky odor to deter predation...
). Adults can be 8–13 cm (3-5 inches) in carapace length. Barbels are present on the chin only, not on the throat.