The Arizona mud turtle (Kinosternon stejnegeri ) is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae found in the deserts of Arizona (United States) and Sonora (Mexico). It is a semi-aquatic turtle. It lives in impermanent puddles, and avoids permanent rivers and lakes.
The male adult Arizona mud turtle is 103.0- 181.3 mm (4-7.5 in) long, and the female is slightly smaller. The turtle's top shell is brown and olive brown with a dome shaped appearance. The skin is brown, dark silver on top, and light yellow on bottom of the head. There are no patterns on the extremities.
The turtle's diet includes anurans, tadpoles, invertebrates and carrion. During winter the Arizona mud turtle hibernates under the temporary puddle and pond.
The growth cycle begins in July and early August when the turtle starts laying eggs.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
A burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
Semiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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starts withThe male adult Arizona mud turtle is 103.0- 181.3 mm (4-7.5 in) long, and the female is 95.5-167.3mm (3.5-6.5 in) long. The turtle's body varies in color. The carapace (upper portion of the shell) is dome shaped and tends to be brown, olive or a yellow-brown in color. The carapace also lacks keels. The marginal shield, which can be described as the rim around the shell, is yellow, As is the lower portion of the shell, the plastron. The top of the head is grey in color, and the bottom and sides are cream and light yellow. Unlike other species of turtles, the first vertebral scute and second marginal shield do not connect.
The Arizona mud turtle usually lives at elevations of 200-800m. It is found in the Lower Colorado River Sonoran Desert scrub, Arizona Upland Sonoran Desert scrub, and Semidesert Grassland communities.
Arizona mud turtles prefer temporary ponds and puddle because they will have a secure food source. The Arizona mud turtle is active occurs during the day. It is often found near the temporary pond to conserve heat and energy from sunlight. It also is active at night in July and August in monsoon season. Because it is warm during this period, it spends most of its time in the water, and is therefore semi-aquatic. During the winter, it hibernates in a burrow. In droughts, the Arizona mud turtle can remain dormant underground for up to two years.
The diet consists of anurans, dytiscid, toads, tadpoles, fish, invertebrates, hydrophilid and carrion.
The Arizona mud turtle mates primarily in July and early August, and the female lays three to seven eggs. The Arizona mud turtle usually buries its eggs close to food sources. Hatchlings are usually 25–28 mm carapace length and have life span from 6 to 10 years age.
The species is considered threatened due to ranching, agriculture and flood control in the Sonoran Desert. Its wetlands habitat also exposes it to climate and habitat degradation. Road mortality is also likely to affect this species. The Arizona mud turtle benefits from pond reconstruction performed by humans.
