Staurotypus

Staurotypus
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Chiapas giant musk turtle Giant musk turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Kinosternoidea
Family:	Kinosternidae
Genus:	Staurotypus Wagler, 1830

Staurotypus is a genus of aquatic turtles commonly known as Mexican musk turtles, giant musk turtles, or three-keeled musk turtles. The two recognized species are found in Mexico and Central America.

Species

• Giant musk turtle or Chiapas giant musk turtle, S. salvinii Gray, 1864
• Mexican musk turtle, S. triporcatus (Wiegmann, 1828)

Geographic distribution

S. salvinii is found primarily in Mexico, in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, but ranges south into Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize. S. triporcatus is also found primarily in Mexico, and is more widespread, found in the states of Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Yucatán, and Campeche, and ranges south into Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras.

File:Staurotypus triporcatus by LA Dawson.jpg

Mexican musk turtle
S. triporcatus

Description

They are typically much larger than other species of Kinosternidae, attaining sizes of up to 36 cm (14 in) carapace length, with males being significantly smaller than females. They are typically brown, black, or green in color, with yellow undersides. Their carapaces are distinguished by three distinct ridges, or keels, which run their length.

Diet

Like other musk turtle species, they are carnivorous, eating various types of aquatic invertebrates, as well as fish and carrion.

References

• Genus Staurotypus at The Reptile Database
• Turtles of the World - Staurotypus salvini & Staurotypus triporcatus

Further reading

• Wagler, J.G. 1830. Natürliches System der Amphibien, mit vorangehender Classification des Säugthiere und Vögel. Ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Zoologie. J.G. Cotta. Munich, Stuttgart, and Tübingen. vi + 354 pp. (Genus Staurotypus, p. 137.)