Common Musk Turtle - Sternotherus odoratus

This turtle is commonly known as a "Stinkpot" because of a musky secretion they produce when handled. They are aquatic turtles, coming on land only after rains and to nest. They reach a length of 13.6 cm. I found conflicting records for this species, Ernst and Barbour list this species as Kinosternon odoratum (Latreille, 1802), however many other books list it as Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille, 1801). Thiese specimens died naturally in the wild.

Carapace

Carapace #2