Narrow-bridged musk turtle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Narrow-bridged musk turtle
Claudius angustatus
in an aquarium

Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Kinosternidae
Subfamily: Staurotypinae
Genus: Claudius
Cope, 1865
Species:
C. angustatus
Binomial name
Claudius angustatus
Cope, 1865[1]
Synonyms[3]

The narrow-bridged musk turtle (Claudius angustatus) is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is found in Central America and Mexico.

Geographic range

C. angustatus is found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.[1]

Taxonomy

As of 2010, C. angustatus is the only recognized extant species in the genus Claudius.[1]

Description

The narrow-bridged musk turtle is typically brown in color. The scutes of the carapace have lines and graining, imparting an almost wood-like appearance. It often has bright-yellow markings on the edges of the carapace. As it ages, algae often heavily cover the shell, masking the patterning and coloration. The head is large and bulbous for its size, with a sharp beak and a long neck. The jaw joint anatomy of the narrow-bridged musk turtle is unique among modern Cryptodira.[4] In most cryptodires the jaw joint is formed by a biconcave facet. In the narrow-bridged musk turtle, the jaw joint of is formed by a broad hemispherical condyle, more akin to Pleurodira. The carapace is domed, with three distinct ridges down the length. Though classified in the subfamily Staurotypinae with the "giant" musk turtles, the narrow-bridged musk turtle generally only grows to a straight carapace length of about 6.5 in (16.5 cm).[citation needed]

The narrow-bridged musk turtle exhibits genetic sex determination, in contrast to most turtles; although the mechanism is not known for certain, it is suspected to be XX/XY like that of its relative Staurotypus.[5][6]

Behavior, habitat, and diet

Like all musk turtles, the narrow-bridged musk turtle is almost entirely aquatic, and prefers

shell from which it can release a foul-smelling musk, hence its common name.[citation needed
]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0965354097. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 2011-07-17.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  3. S2CID 87809001
    .
  4. PMID 35900121
    .
  5. S2CID 14434440
    .
  6. PMID 25121779
    .

External links


Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1889). Catalogue of the Chelonians, Rhynchocephalians, and Crocodiles in the British Museum (Natural History). New Edition. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). x + 311 pp. + Plates I-III. (Genus Claudius, p. 32; species C. angustatus, p. 33).
  • Cope ED (1865). "Third contribution to the HERPETOLOGY of Tropical America". Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 17: 185–198. (Claudius angustatus, new species, pp. 187–188).
  • ISBN 0-7167-0020-4
    . (Genus Claudius, p. 264).