Reptiles of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

NC Records
Kinosternidae Members:
Sternotherus odoratus - Eastern Musk Turtle

Photo: Erich Hofmann

Photo: Travis McLain

Photo: Erich Hofmann

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Kinosternidae


Taxonomic Comments: One of six species in this genus that occur in North American north of Mexico (SSAR, 2016), two of which are found in North Carolina.
Species Comments:

Identification

Basis for Records: Outside of the mountains, a photograph of the plastron is sufficient to identify this species, as is usually also true for a shot of the side of the head, particularly if the barbels are visible.

Field Marks: The skin is usually grayish brown to black with some degree of mottling or flecking (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). There are usually two pale stripes on the sides of the head, including a line that runs between the nostril and the eye, similar to that found in Striped Mud Turtles.

Morphological Features: Both species of Musk Turtles are recognizable by the barbels on their chins and by their hinged plastron and the quadrangular shape of their pectoral scutes. Mud Turtles lack barbels and the pectoral scutes are triangular in shape (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). The tails have a sharp spine at the tip.

Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Lovich (2009)

Field Guide Descriptions: Beane et al. (2010); Powell et al. (2016)

Online Photos: Google iNaturalist GBIF

Observation Methods: Musk Turtles are often crepuscular. They bask to some extent, often floating at the surface but also climbing up into streamside shrubs.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution Comments: Probably occurs statewide except for the high mountains; it also appears to be rare to absent on the barrier islands.
Distribution Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); NCMNS Herpetology Collection Database (accessed 2023-01)
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Key Habitat Requirements

Habitat: Eastern Musk Turtles are found in a wide variety of freshwater aquatic habitats across the state. Although they prefer the still waters of ponds or slowly-flowing streams, they also occur in at least some swift flowing streams in the Mountains (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). Most Coastal Plain waters are occupied but they do not make use of the brackish waters of the sounds. The presence of shelter, including submerged rocks and logs and muskrat dens, appears to be an important habitat factor (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). In all types of habitat, shallow waters appear to be preferred over deep waters.

Environmental and Physiological Tolerances: This species appears to be salt-intolerant, limiting its distribution in the Tidewater region of the state. As a species that reaches the northern tier of states and Ontario Province in Canada, this is the most cold-tolerant species in the Kinosternidae, explaining its fairly wide distribution at least at lower elevations in our mountains.

Adaptations to Natural Disturbances: During droughts, Musk Turtles may stay in their ponds but may also emigrate, looking for other bodies of water; they do not aestivate on land, as is commonly done by Mud Turtles.

Biotic Relationships: Eastern Musk Turtles are omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of aquatic insects, crustaceans, annelids, molluscs and other invertebrates; fish, amphibian eggs, carrion; filamentous algae and a wide variety of aquatic plants. In one stream, the introduced Asiatic Clam was a major prey item (Wilhem and Plummer, 2012). Eggs of Musk Turtles are preyed upon by a large number of vertebrate predators, including herons, kingsnakes, opossums, raccoons, and other carnivores. Small adults are preyed upon by many of the same species (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Life History and Autecology

Breeding and Courtship: Males can reach sexual maturity at the end of their second year; females in their third to fourth years (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Some geographic variation exists, however, with individuals in the South maturing more quickly than in the North. Most mating takes place in the spring, in April and May, but there can be a second peak in the fall. Sperm can be stored for use in multiple clutches.

Reproductive Mode: Nesting occurs mainly in May and July in the North but can begin as early as April or even February in the South (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Nest can be dug in open ground, but most appear to be constructed leaf litter, under logs, or in sawdust piles; some use of alligator or snapping turtle nests has been observed, as well as use of muskrat or beaver lodges. Clutches usually contain 2-4 eggs, with a range of 1-13 (Ernst and Lovich, 2009). Hatchlings emerge in the fall, with some apparently overwintering in their nests.

Aquatic Life History: Musk Turtles are highly aquatic, traveling on land primarily for nesting. Hibernation takes place under water.

Terrestrial Life History: Overland movements are rare, with even nesting excursions limited to 45 meter or less from their home water bodies (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

General Ecology

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Habitat Loss: Draining and conversion of wetlands has been a major factor reducing populations of this species (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Habitat Fragmentation: Although overland movements are rare in this species, roadways are likely to be a major source of habitat fragmentation in this species, as is true for virtually all species of reptiles.

Interactions with Humans: Some mortality from boat propellers has been reported. Fisherman may often kill Musk Turtles that have become hooked (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).

Status in North Carolina

NHP State Rank: S5

Global Rank: G5

Populations: With little to no extensive overland movement in this species and its intolerance of brackish water, populations are probably isolated within each of the 21 river basins that exist in North Carolina.

Environmental Threats: The increase in temperatures associated with climate change may affect the sex ratio of this species, which, like other turtles, is dependent on temperatures within the nest (Stemle, 2017). Rising temperatures favor the development of females and at some point males may become so scarce as to be a limiting factor.

Stewardship: Preservation of wetland and aquatic habitats is the main stewardship need of this species and other aquatic turtles. Protection from pollution is also likely to be important.

Photo Gallery for Sternotherus odoratus - Eastern Musk Turtle		19 photos are shown.
	Recorded by: B. Bockhahn United States Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Terrell Tucker Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: D. Schafer Gates Co. Comment: MEMI - Found on the pathway between the visitor center and canoe dock. @ -76.699200, 36.435854	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Rowan Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Stanly Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Columbus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: A. Lasley Burke Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: A. Lasley Burke Co. Comment: SOMO - Adult musk turtle observed crossing road toward drainage hours after rain shower. @ -81.627377, 35.602721	Recorded by: Travis McLain Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Mecklenburg Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Cabarrus Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Craven Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Craven Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther Craven Co. Comment:

Sternotherus odoratus - Eastern Musk Turtle

Photo Gallery for Sternotherus odoratus - Eastern Musk Turtle

19 photos are shown.