Natural History Traits and Ecology of the Striped Mud Turtle in a Florida Wetland

Stemle, Leyna R.; Martinet, Kristen M.; Langford, Gabriel J.

doi:10.1656/058.019.0307

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Although K. steindachneri has been characterized as mostly aquatic and rarely seen on land, this perception likely results from a lack of detailed studies of this species. Both K. subrubrum and Kinosternon baurii are well known to move overland in response to drought, to seek terrestrial habitats for dormancy, and to nest (reviewed by Meshaka and Gibbons 2006; Harden et al 2009; Stemle et al 2019). The fact that K. steindachneri on the Ordway Biological Station quickly moved up to 400 m between ponds through sandy terrestrial habitats, and that 3 of 4 turtles buried in shallow leaf litter within 61 m of a pond, suggests that this species has similar habits as those at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Notes on Kinosternon steindachneri in a North Florida Sandhill Community

Dodd,

2024

Chelonian Conservation and Biology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Notes on Kinosternon steindachneri in a North Florida Sandhill Community

Dodd,

2024

Chelonian Conservation and Biology

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“…s t rt es t at remain in the wetland would be able to si nificant s orten t e inactivit and deprivation period, probably to only about 30 days or even less. Why some individuals of K. scorpioides start to migrate to the forest of PVNP during February (not counting nesting Individuals of Kinosternon baurii (Garman, 1 1 in orida spend a si nificant amo nt of time on land when aquatic areas dry out (Stemle et al 2019). Apparently, heavy rainfall initiates mass migration in this species and extreme temperature inhibits terrestrial movement (Wygoda 1979). As was observed in this study, seasonal terrestrial movement may involve nesting as well as estivation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Terrestrial movements, activity patterns and habitat use by Kinosternon scorpioides (Testudines: Kinosternidae) in Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica

Mora,

Castañeda

2022

Phyllomedusa

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The Scorpion Mud turtle, Kinosternon scorpioides, is a widely distributed, semiaquatic species known to engage in regular terrestrial movement and terrestrial estivation. We studied terrestrial behavior in this species in Palo Verde National Park, northwestern Costa Rica. We determined terrestrial activity patterns by searching for active individuals during transects along 3.4 km of trails. We determined the distance that turtles traveled between the wetlands and estivation sites by fitting 10 terrestrially active individuals with a thread-bobbin tracking device attached to the rear of the carapace. We identified sex and marked and measured every turtle found active. We accumulated 92 observations of K. scorpioides active on land and we identified two behaviors: traveling and nesting. These turtles showed a bimodal activity pattern (χ2 = 18.1, p < 0.02, df = 8) with maximum activity during early morning hours (06:00 to 08:00 h) and twilight and early evening hours (16:00 to 20:00 h). We found 41 turtles estivating in deciduous dry forest at an average distance (±SE) of 156.4 ± 13.7 m (range 20.9–304.9 m) from the wetland border (water´s edge). Adults estivated at greater distances from the wetland than did juvenile turtles, and males estivated at greater distances than females. Turtles found estivating were in three different habitats: leaf litter (85%), rock cavities (10%), and tree buttresses (5%). Kinosternon scorpioides was observed to estivate for at least 84 days in PVNP during the dry season. We recorded several behavioral traits that may account for its ability to withstand desiccation during the estivation period. Our work underscores the need to include terrestrial habitats when considering the conservation needs of semiaquatic turtles.

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“…Most authors reported maximum straightline carapace length (SCL) (e.g., Iverson 1978;Palmer and Braswell 1995;Wilson et al 1999;Ewert and Jackson 2005), but others reported straight midline carapace length (SMCL) (e.g., Johnston et al 2008Johnston et al , 2019. In some cases, it is not clear which measurement (SCL or SMCL) was taken (e.g., Wygoda 1979;Meshaka and Blind 2001;Stemle et al 2020). Johnston (unpubl.…”

Section: 2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinosternon baurii (Garman 1891) – Striped Mud Turtle

Johnston,

Dodd, Jr.,

Wilson

2021

Chelonian Research Monographs

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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

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Natural History Traits and Ecology of the Striped Mud Turtle in a Florida Wetland

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Notes on Kinosternon steindachneri in a North Florida Sandhill Community

Notes on Kinosternon steindachneri in a North Florida Sandhill Community

Terrestrial movements, activity patterns and habitat use by Kinosternon scorpioides (Testudines: Kinosternidae) in Palo Verde National Park, Costa Rica

Kinosternon baurii (Garman 1891) – Striped Mud Turtle

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