REPTILES OF THE VICINITY OF NEW YORK CITY 129 



Mud 

 Turtle. 



The Mud Turtle, Kinosternon pennsylvaniciim (Figs. 31 and 

 32), is often confounded with the Musk Turtle {Aroinochelys 

 odoratus), which it resembles in shape and size. The 

 principal differences between the two species are in 

 the markings of the head and the width of the plastron. 

 The head of the Musk Turtle shows on each side two distinct, 

 yellowish stripes, beginning at the tip of the snout and running 

 to the neck, and the plastron is very narrow and is much shorter 

 than the carapace, affording little protection. The Mud Turtle, 

 on the other hand, shows no stripes upon the head and neck ; the 

 head is irregularly ' speckled with green or yellow; the plastron 

 is wide, is but a trifle shorter than the carapace, and can be closed 

 to afford substantial protection. The average length of the Mud 

 Turtle in this vicinity is about three and one-half inches when 

 adult. It is not as common as the Musk Turtle. 



Range: The eastern United States from New York to the 

 Gulf of Mexico. 



Local distribution: General in slow-running, muddy streams 

 and ponds. 



The Musk Turtle, Aromochelys odoratus (Figs, t,;}, 34 and 35), 

 may be distinguished from the Mud Turtle, which it closely re- 

 sembles, by the points given under the preceding caption. 



FIQ. 32. MUD TURTLE; ON ITS BACK 



