Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. 231 



87. Akomochelys odoeata Latreille. Common Musk 

 Turtle. Stink Turtle. 



Testudo pennsylvanica, Testudo odorata, Testudo glutinata, Emys odo- 

 rata, Terrapene odorata, Terrapene 'boscii, Cistudo odorata, Sterno- 

 thoerus odoratus, Staurotypus odoratus, Ozotheca odorata, Cinoster- 

 num odoratum, Aromochelys odoratus. 



Description. — Head large, snout conical, jaws very strong. No point 

 at symphysis of upper jaw. Two to four gular tentacles. Numerous 

 small tubercles in series on the skin of the neck. Shell elongate, con- 

 vex, smooth or with an indistinct vertebral ridge in adults, distinctly 

 keeled in young. Nuchal plate small, elongate and widest behind in 

 adults. First dorsal about half as wide behind as in front, the three 

 following dorsals hexagonal; last dorsal about half as wide before as 

 behind. Costals very large. Marginals, excepting one on each side of 

 the two caudals, narrow and elongate; the two marginals next the 

 caudals equal to the caudals in size and about twice the width of the 

 other marginals. Plastron small, rounded anteriorly, emarginate poste- 

 riorly. A single small gular; postgulars small, pectorals large. Axil- 

 laries and inguinals meeting, and with the wings of the large ab- 

 dominal plates forming the bridge between the plastron and the cara- 

 pace. Anterior feet with three transverse scales on their anterior 

 surface and with a few small ones on the palms. Hind feet with trans- 

 verse scutes on the heel. Digits 5-4, claws sharp and curved. Skin of 

 legs and tail with numerous papillae. A curved nail on the end of the 

 tail. 



Color. — Shell brownish black above and below in adults, more or less 

 yellowish in young. Often shell is streaked with darker. The seams 

 of the plastron are marked with yellow. Head greenish olive or black 

 with several stripes of yellow. A narrow stripe extends from the tip 

 of the snout over the eye to a spot on the side of the head and along 

 the neck. Another stripe of the same color extends from beneath the 

 nostril underneath the eye to and along the neck. There is a short 

 stripe on each side of the lower jaw, which may continue posteriorly on 

 the skin of the neck. 



Size. — Length of shell 121 mm. ; width of shell 80 mm. ; depth 45 mm. 



Habitat, — Southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, west- 

 ward to Missouri in the north and to Texas in the 

 southern portion. Missouri localities: — Caruthersville, 

 Pemiscot Co., Gainesville, Ozark Co., Carthage, Jasper 

 Co., Osage Eiver. In Illinois, Madison and St. Clair 

 Counties. 



Habits. — The Musk Turtle frequents slow-running 

 streams, muddy lakes and sloughs. When picked up it 



