Kinosternidae (Musk & Mud Turtles)
Kinosternon and Sternotherus turtles are botton dwelling turtles that have musk glands. The musk glands are located at
"the bridge between the plastron and the carapace" (Conant 149). The two different genus differ in several ways. The most noticable are on the carapace and plastron.
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The carapace of the Kinosternon flavescens is smooth. There is not a middorsal keel.
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On the Sternotherus odoratus, there is a middorsal keel on the carapace.
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| The plastrons of Kinosternon and Sternotherus turtles are different. The Kinosternon genus has a triangular shaped pectoral scute (Conant 149). |
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The plastrons of the Sternotherus genus has a squarish shaped pectoral scute (Conant 149).
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