The flat-backed musk turtle originated in the United States. They are very mysterious and do not like to bask in the sun. They usually come out at dusk or evening, so many people don't know much about them. Today, the editor will give you some popular information about them, let's take a look~

1. Basic information

【Chinese name 】Flattened Musk Turtle

【Latin name】Sternotherus depressus

【English name】Flattened Musk Turtle

【Kingdom】Animal

【phylum】chordate phylum

【class】reptiles

【order】turtles

【suborder】subterranean turtles

【Family】Zonethidae

【Subfamily】Zonethoridae

【Genus】Musk turtles

【Species】 】Flatback Musk Turtle

【Named by】Tinkle&Webb

【Named】1955

【Life】30-40 years

[Origin] Black Warrior River, Alabama, USA

2. Morphological characteristics

The body length of the flat-backed musk turtle is generally 7.6 -11.4 cm or so. The head is of medium size, with greenish green on the neck and some dark mesh patterns; the upper jaw is somewhat hook-like, and the lower jaw has a pair of tentacles; the limbs are webbed; the tail is brown.

The carapace is relatively flat, yellow-brown and brown in color, with some black or brown spots and stripes; there is a blunt and inconspicuous vertebra in the center of the back; the margins on both sides of the front end of the carapace The shield is serrated, the first vertebral shield is longer and not connected with the second marginal shield, and the width of the other 4 vertebral shields is longer than its own length; the junction between the shields is black.

The color of the plastron is pink and tawny; there are abdominal shields, chest shields, hip shields, rib shields, and throat shields between the plastrons; among them, the front end of the abdominal shield has a hinged cover that is not very clear ; only 1 throat shield.

PS: The yellow stripes from the nostrils to the eye sockets of the flat-backed musk turtle and the longitudinal pattern of the neck are not as obvious as those of the tiger musk turtle.

III. Habits

1. Habitat

The flat-backed musk turtle generally lives in medium-sized rivers, wide in creeks or dams.

2. Eating habits

The flatback musk turtle mainly eats some insects and worms, and sometimes eats some snails, clams and mussels.

3. Reproduction

The reproduction method of the flatback musk turtle is oviparous. Male tortoises take 4-6 years to reach sexual maturity, while females take 6-8 years. The female tortoise lays eggs from May to mid-June or early July every year, and the spawning location will be in sandy land, not too deep caves or riverside. They can lay 1-2 litters a year, each with 1-4 eggs.

IV. Status of the population

Due to the destruction of the living environment, the number of flat-backed musk turtles is gradually decreasing, and they have been included in the World Conservation of Nature. In the Union (IUCN), it is a vulnerable level.

V. Natural enemies

The musk turtles are usually preyed by wading birds or some predatory fish when they are young; Predated by raccoons. Second, both juveniles and adults, they are preyed on by giant snapping turtles (also called little crocodiles).

Okay, the introduction of the flat-backed musk turtle, the editor will stop here! Do you guys understand? If you want to learn about other turtles, you may wish to continue to pay attention to this site.