Scorpion mud turtle
A species of Mud turtles Scientific name : Kinosternon scorpioides Genus : Mud turtles
Scorpion mud turtle, A species of Mud turtles
Scientific name: Kinosternon scorpioides
Genus: Mud turtles
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Zippo Zimmermann, www.designladen.com (identical with original uploader) , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0-DE /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The scorpion mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is found in Mexico, Central and South America. It is a medium to large kinosternid (mud turtle) with a domed, oval upper shell 92â270Â mm (3.6â10.6Â in) long. Males regularly exceed 200Â mm. The scorpion mud turtle is a highly aquatic, adaptable kinosternid that will live in almost any body of water. It is primarily omnicarnivorous, a glutton, and feeds on a...
General Info
Lifespan
10-25 years
Diet
Scorpion mud turtle primarily consume an omnivorous diet consisting largely of aquatic invertebrates. They also feed on fish and plant material, supplemented with crustaceans, mollusks, and carrion when available.
Appearance
Scorpion mud turtle is a small to medium-sized, hard-shelled turtle with a highly domed carapace. Sporting a dark brown or black hue, the carapace often has a mottled pattern. It possesses a hinged plastron for retreat. Two tapered barbels hang down from its chin, and it has a long tail, sharp claws, and webbed feet for swimming. Males are distinguished by a longer and thicker tail.
Behavior
Scorpion mud turtle is a nocturnal, predominantly aquatic being, regularly surfacing for air. It is solitary with aggressive territorial behavior, using its strong jaws to bite intruders. Scorpion mud turtle exhibits a bimodal breathing pattern, taking in oxygen from both air and water. It primarily feeds on invertebrates, small fishes, and plant material, using chemoreception for prey detection. To aid in survival, scorpion mud turtle retreats into its protective shell when threatened.
Photo By Zippo Zimmermann, www.designladen.com (identical with original uploader) , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0-DE /Cropped and compressed from original 
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Mud turtles Genus
Mud turtles Species
Scorpion mud turtle 
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