The eastern mud turtle is a small and often hard to identify species. The carapace is keelless, lacks any pattern, and varies in color from yellowish to black. The plastron is large and double hinged, and can be yellowish to brown, and may sometimes have a dark pattern. The chin and throat are a yellowish grey, streaked and mottled with brown, while the limbs and tail are grayish. The eye, or iris, of the Eastern Mud Turtle is yellow with dark clouding and its feet are webbed.
Ten Facts about Eastern Mud Turtle
- It measures 3-4 inches in length.
- Found in southeastern parts of the united states a far north as Connecticut, and as far south as Florida. They are also found in eastern Texas.
- Eastern mud turtles dwells in ponds and other freshwater habitats.
- They feed mainly on insects and small fish.
- Raccoons are known to eat this species eggs, while herons and alligators often hunt the adults.
- Eastern Mud turtles usually breed between March and May.
- They can live more than 50 years.
- Like most other turtles and reptiles, mud turtles love to bask in the sun's rays.
- Mud and their close relatives the musk turtles (also known as stinkpots), can secrete a foul smelling fluid from their anal scent glands.
- Attains sexual maturity may take 8-11 years.
