Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Trionychoidea
Genus: Kinosternon
Species: Flavescens
Background/Diet/ Habits
• The yellow mud turtle is believed to have
evolved in the semi-arid plains of North America
5,000 - 7,000 years ago. There are 3 sub species of
mud turtles that live in different parts of the US.
• Yellow mud turtles are omnivorous. They eat
worms, Crayfish, Frogs, snails, beetles, fish, slugs,
leeches, shrimp, and other aquatic insects and
invertebrate. They also eat vegetation, and dead and
decaying matter.
• Yellow mud turtles inhabit aquatic systems,
preferably with muddy bottoms, such as ponds,
cattle tanks and lakes. They also commonly are
found in canals, ditches and other slow-moving
waterways.
The yellow mud turtle has a lifespan of about 15 years. Nesting
in Texas occurs during June. The eggs are small and oval (0.9–
1.2 × 0.6–0.7 in [23–31 × 14–18 mm]) with white, brittle
eggshells. The clutch size ranges from one to nine (typically
four to six), with larger females producing larger clutches/Eggs
hatch after 90 to 118 days; at least in Nebraska, hatchlings then
dig straight down as much as 3 ft (1 m) below the nest to avoid
freezing temperatures during the winter. They dig back out and
head for the water during the following spring. The turtle's top
shell is olive colored and the upper shell grows up to about 18
cm (7 inches) long, usually less than 14 cm (5.5 inches).
•They are the only turtle that stay with the eggs for a period of a few
hours up to 38 days.
•Adults only reach about 6 inches.
•When disturbed, both sexes are capable of emitting a strong odor
from musk glands that are located on each side of their body. Citations
Baack, M. (December 2000).Yellow Mud Turtle Kinosternon flavescens. Accessed March 30, 2010.
•The yellow mud turtle is capable of hibernating up to 2 years. www.rw.ttu.edu/sp_accounts/yellowmudturtle/DEFAULT.htm. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
Weiss, B. and K. Francl. 2009. "Kinosternon flavescens" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March
•A maximum of a single clutch is produced per year in most
30, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kinosternon_flavescens.html.
Grzimk’s , B. (June 2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia. Edition 2, Volume 7. Retrieved March 30,
populations, and some females do not nest every year.
2010 from library..
By: Karen Vargas