Carapace keeled (prominent in juveniles), with overlapping vertebral scutes; brown or orange, with dark-bordered seams; may be patterned with dark spots or radiating streaks. Plastron small, pink or yellow, with single indistinct hinge and single gular scute. Barbels on chin only. Head has dark spots or stripes. Male has enlarged, spine-tipped tail; tip of female's tail barely reaches edge of carapace.
Ten Facts about Loggerhead Musk Turtle
- Size up to 3 1/8-5 1/4" (8-13.5 cm).
- Lays 1-4 clutches of 2-3 elliptical, 1 1/8" (29 mm) eggs.
- Incubation takes 13-16 weeks.
- Mostly founds In Large spring runs, creeks, rivers, oxbows, swamps, and sinkhole ponds.
- The loggerhead musk turtle can be found in the states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
- Also known as Sternotherus minor.
- These are typically very carnivorous. A diet of worms, fish, commercial pellets can be offered.
- The males have a really big tail. Females have a tail that is rather small compared to that of a male.
- They are belong to the Kinosternidae, Musk and Mud Turtles family.
- Predators include sharks, other fish such as parrotfish, moray eels, portunid crabs, gulls, monk seals, and killer whales.
