- Narrow-bridged musk turtle
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Narrow-bridged musk turtle Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Kinosternoidea Family: Kinosternidae Subfamily: Staurotypinae[1] Genus: Claudius Species: C. angustatus Binomial name Claudius angustatus
Cope, 1865[1]Synonyms Claudius megalocephalus Bocourt, 1868
Claudius macrocephalus Gray, 1868 (ex errore)
Claudius megacephalus Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore)
Claudias angustatus - Velasco, 1892
Claudius agassizii Smith & Taylor, 1950 (nomen nudum)[2]The narrow-bridged musk turtle (Claudius angustatus) is a species of musk turtle found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.[1] As of 2010 it is the only extant species in the genus Claudius recognised.[1]
Contents
Description
Narrow-bridged musk turtles are typically brown in coloration. Their scutes have lines and graining that make them almost appear wood-like. They often have bright yellow markings on the edge of the carapace. As they age, algae often heavily cover their shells, masking their patterning and coloration. The head is large and bulbous for their size, with a long neck, and a sharp beak. The shell is domed, with three distinct ridges down the length. Though classified in the subfamily Staurotypinae with the "giant" musk turtles, narrow-bridged musk turtles generally only grow to about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in length.
Behavior
Like all musk turtles, narrow-bridged musk turtles are almost entirely aquatic, and prefer habitats such as slow moving creeks, or shallow ponds that are heavily vegetated. They spend much of their time walking along the bottom foraging for aquatic invertebrates, insects, and carrion. They have glands under the rear of their shell which they can use to release a foul smelling musk, hence their common name.
References
- ^ a b c d e Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 000.98. Archived from the original on 2010-12-15. http://www.webcitation.org/5uzfktoIh.
- ^ Fritz, Uwe and Peter Havaš. 2007. Checklist of Chelonians of the World. Museum für Tierkunde Dresden. Dresden.
External links
- Turtles of the World: Claudius angustatus[dead link]
- Species Claudius angustatus at The Reptile Database
Kinosternidae family of turtles Genus Species of the Kinosterninae subfamilyKinosternon Alamos mud turtle · Arizona mud turtle · Central American mud turtle · Creaser's mud turtle · Dunn's mud turtle · Durango mud turtle · Eastern mud turtle · Herrara's mud turtle · Jalisco mud turtle · Mexican mud turtle · Mexican plateau mud turtle · Oaxaca mud turtle · Scorpion mud turtle · Sonora mud turtle · Striped mud turtle · Tabasco mud turtle · White-lipped mud turtle · Yellow mud turtleSternotherus Genus Species of the Staurotypinae subfamilyClaudius Narrow-bridged musk turtleStaurotypus Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2010 update: annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status. Order Testudines (turtles) Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Reptilia · Subclass: Anapsida · Order: Testudines Suborder SuperfamilySubfamily
Cryptodira Chelydra · MacrochelysCaretta · Chelonia · Eretmochelys · Lepidochelys · NatatorDermochelysDermatemydidaeDermatemysStaurotypinaeClaudius · StaurotypusBatagur · Cuora · Cyclemys · Geoclemys · Geoemyda · Hardella · Heosemys · Leucocephalon · Malayemys · Mauremys · Melanochelys · Morenia · Notochelys · Orlitia · Pangshura · Rhinoclemmys · Sacalia · Siebenrockiella · VijayachelysAldabrachelys · Astrochelys · Chelonoidis · Chersina · Cylindraspis · Geochelone · Gopherus · Homopus · Indotestudo · Kinixys · Malacochersus · Manouria · Psammobates · Pyxis · Stigmochelys · TestudoTrionychiaCarettochelyidaeCarettochelysTrionychinaePleurodira ChelidinaeChelodininaeHydromedusinaePelomedusa · PelusiosPhylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2010 update: annotated checklist. Extinct turtles not included.
See also List of Testudines families
Portal · 
WikiProjectCategories:- IUCN Red List near threatened species
- Staurotypinae
- Fauna of Mexico
- Reptiles of Belize
- Monotypic reptile genera
- Reptiles of Guatemala
- Turtle stubs
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