Eastern Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille, in Sonnini and Latreille 1801)    Synonyms: Stinkpot, Stinkpot Turtle.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Testudines   >   Family Kinosternidae   >   Genus Sternotherus   

Status:

Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), or Stinkpot Turtle, is a small aquatic turtle well-known for its powerful musky odor. This large-headed, inconspicuous species inhabits slow-moving or still, shallow waters with a soft bottom, including ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers, and wooded swamps. Unlike its relative, the Eastern Mud Turtle, musk turtles do not tolerate brackish water. Eastern Musk Turtles are considered to be able climbers, and they will often venture onto overhanging trees or shrubs to bask (Conant & Collins, 1998). This turtle occurs across Maryland, and may be more abundant on the coastal plain (Maryland DNR).

There are 198 records in the project database.

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An Eastern Musk Turtle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/22/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (4/16/2017). Photo by Mary B. Hollinger. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/1/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle basking in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/6/2014). Photo by Keith Eric Costley. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Howard Co., Maryland (4/18/2015). Photo by Clayton G. Koonce. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/7/2015). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Washington Co., Maryland (6/17/2019). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle at Tuckahoe State Park, Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (6/19/2010). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/4/2018). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (5/9/2009). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Eastern Musk Turtle in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Kyle Klotz, all rights reserved. Photo by Kyle Klotz. (MBP list)

Eastern Musk Turtle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/20/2022). (c) fireweaver, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by fireweaver via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (4/4/2022). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Calvert Co., Maryland (6/19/2017). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A baby Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A baby Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (8/14/2021). (c) mmontes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by mmontes via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A baby Eastern Musk Turtle in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Caroline Co., Maryland (5/14/2013). Notice the overall size of the plastron is reduced in comparison to the similar looking eastern mud turtle. Moreover, the shape of the pectoral scute is rectangular as opposed to triangular and the hinges are less prominent in comparison to the mud turtle. Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

An Eastern Musk Turtle in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/4/2018). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)


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