Kinosternon baurii (Garman 1891) – Striped Mud Turtle

Abstract

The Striped Mud Turtle, Kinosternon baurii (family Kinosternidae) is a small freshwater species (maximum straightline carapace length of up to 13.8 cm in females and 11.5 cm in males) that occurs along the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States from the lower Keys of Florida north as far as Delaware. Because individuals in the northern parts of the species' range often lack characteristic shell striping, they are often misidentified as K. subrubrum, their close relative. Kinosternon baurii can be found in a variety of aquatic habitats and is commonly found moving on land during rainy periods or when water levels are low. Individuals of the lower Florida Keys often inhabit brackish water ponds. Clutch size ranges from 1-7 eggs, and 1-3 clutches are typically laid per year in Florida. Eggs of K. baurii may exhibit embryonic diapause (early arrested development) and embryonic estivation (late embryonic dormancy). Eggs laid in fall and winter exhibit diapause until spring and may remain in the nest cavity for nearly one year before hatching. The species appears abundant in most parts of its range, but the lower Florida Keys populations are in danger of acute habitat loss because of intensive development and sea level rise. Climate change models suggest that suitable habitat will decline substantially during the next several decades, especially in the southern and northern parts of its current distribution. distribution. -United States