Stripe-necked Musk Turtle
Sternotherus peltifer
Sternotherus peltifer has a round low carapace with flared margins. It has distinct stripes on the side of the head and neck with a reticulated pattern on the top of the…
How to identify
Sternotherus peltifer has a round low carapace with flared margins. It has distinct stripes on the side of the head and neck with a reticulated pattern on the top of the head. It has small paired gular scutes, and a single pair of neck barbels.
Range
Sternotherus peltifer can be found in the greater Mobile River Basin and Upper Tennessee River and Pearl River drainages from Mississippi to Virginia.
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in springs, streams, rivers, and other clean fresh bodies of water. Typically found underwater, on bottom, sometimes up to 20 feet deep. Occasionally can be seen basking on tree branches above water. Only terrestrial when nesting.
Similar species
Sternotherus peltifer was once thought of to be a subspecies of Sternotherus minor, the Loggerhead Musk Turtle. It can be distinguished from the similar S. minor and S. intermedius by the large amount of striping on the neck.
Name and etymology
Peltifer: Latin for bearing (-fer) half-moon shapes (pelta) in reference to the small bridge scutes.
At a glance
Range
Sternotherus peltifer can be found in the greater Mobile River Basin and Upper Tennessee River and Pearl River drainages from…
Habitat
Aquatic. Found in springs, streams, rivers, and other clean fresh bodies of water. Typically found underwater, on bottom, som…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap