Yellow Mud Turtle
Yellow mud turtle is a species of turtle found only in the central United States and northeastern Mexico. The omnivorous turtle is seasonally diurnal.
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Subphylum | Vertebrata |
Class | Reptilia |
Order | Testudines |
Suborder | Cryptodira |
Family | Kinosternidae |
Subfamily | Kinosterninae |
Genus | Kinosternon |
Scientific Name | Kinosternon flavescens |
Other Names | Yellow-necked mud turtle |
Size | 10.2 to 15.2 cm (4.02 to 5.98 in) |
Weight | Around 391 g (13.78 oz) |
Color | Olive, brown or tan upper shell with yellow to brown underside of the shell; scutes on the upper shell are bordered in black; yellowish chin and cheeks |
Distribution | Midwestern and Southwestern United States (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas), northeastern Mexico |
Habitat | Small temporary and permanent ponds with muddy bottoms with scanty or no vegetation; in arid regions, it can be found in cattle tanks, sewer drains and ditches,; when the ponds and ditches dry up, it can be found buried below the mud |
Diet | Worms, crayfish, fish, frogs, slugs, leeches, snails, tadpoles, also feed on vegetation and dead and decaying matter |
Hibernation Fact | Hibernate during winter by burying themselves underground |
Predators | Skunks, raccoons, water snakes, large predatory fish, other turtles |
Breeding Season | July through September |
Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
Clutch Size | 1 to 9 eggs |
Incubation Period | 2 to 3 months |
Reproductive Age | Male: 4 to 7 years Female: 5 to 8 years |
Yellow Mud Turtle Pictures Gallery
Published on September 12th 2017 by staff under Turtles. Article was last reviewed on 14th June 2019.