| Scorpion mud turtle | |
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| Kinosternon scorpioides | |
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| Genus: | Spix, 1824
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| Species: | K. scorpioides
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| Binomial name | |
| Kinosternon scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766)
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The Scorpion mud turtle also known as Kinosternon scorpioides is mainly found in the southern parts of Panama over most of the northern part pf south America particularly in regions of Ecuador, Northern Peru, Southern Bolivia and Northern Argentina. It is a medium to large sized mud turtle. The adult males can grow upto 200mm in carapace length. It is an omnivorous turtle.
Habitat
editThe species inhabitants a variety of fresh watercourses that consist of lakes, rivers, pond and streams. These places consist of rich number of aquatic plant and aquatic animals. The water body has a sediment layer of soil at the bottom. If the water dries up the turtle buries itself in the sediments at the bottom of the water body.
Sexual Dimorphism
editThe species is recognized by its elongated shell. The shell is arched and can range from light brown to dark brown also sometimes black in colour. The underside of the scorpion mud turtle is light brown to yellowish in colour. The males tail is thick and long and has a sort of a nail at the end. the males have a large amount of pigmentation and a greater developed upper jaw. The name scorpion comes from the nail or spine on the tip of its tail. The females tail is however short with a small sort of small nail.
Reproductive Cycle
editMature females lay upto five clutches of 1-8 eggs during a reproductive season. The turtle hatchlings spend majority of their time hid in the sediment, they emerge occasionally for food and air. They are mostly spotted during the time of sunset or sunrise. As the hatchlings grow older, their shells harden and emerge and stay out for a longer period of time.
Life Expectancy
editLife expectancy is approx. 44.7 years (captivity).
Subspecies
edit- Scorpion mud turtle (subspecies) - Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Central Chiapas mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides abaxillare (Baur, 1925)
- White-throated mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare (Duméril and Bibron, 1870)
- Red-cheeked mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides cruentatum (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1851)
References
edit- ^ Fritz Uwe (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 255–258. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. S2CID 87809001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
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- Linnaeus, 1766 : Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio duodecima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, Holmiae, p. 1-532.
- Turtles of the World, 2010 Update:Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status (Checklist 000v3), p. 97.
- Araújo, J., Rosa, P., Palha, M., Rodrigues, P., & Freitas, R. (2012). Effect of three feeding management systems on some reproductive parameters of scorpion mud turtles (kinosternon scorpioides) in brazil. Retrieved from http://journals1.scholarsportal.info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/tmp/6059640814262429225.pdf
- STONE, P. A., STONE, M. E., STANILA, B. D., & LOCEY, K. J. (2011). Terrestrial flight response: A new context for terrestrial activity in sonoran mud turtles. Retrieved from http://journals1.scholarsportal.info.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/tmp/15025673628809559944.pdf
External links
edit
Category:Kinosternon Category:Reptiles of Mexico Category:Reptiles of Central America Category:Reptiles of South America
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