Mexican Mud Turtle (Kinosternon integrum)

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The Mexican Mud Turtle

The Mexican Mud Turtle (Kinosternon integrum) is a species of small turtles. Kinosternon are turtles that are only found in North, Central, and South America. There are over 20 different species of turtle in this family, but all mud turtles live in fresh, shallow water. These turtles are favorites to be taken as pets.

Mexican Mud Turtles are found only in Mexico in warmer locations where there are shallow pools of water. They are usually found in slow-moving or still waters and spend a good deal of their time there. During the summertime when they are more inactive, they will spend more time on land and will burrow under the dried mud and dirt of dried out pools when the rains stop for the season. The preferred pool for the Mexican Mud Turtle has a loosely packed bottom with lots of sand or mud and a large amount of underwater plant material. The water has to be shallow as they don’t swim well and still need to breathe.

Mexican Mud Turtles are considered medium-sized and grow to reach a length of about 7 inches (20 cm). The outer shell, or carapace, is rounded, smooth, and in varying shades of brown with a yellow underside. The head is relatively large with pointed jaws, and it is dark brown on the top, lighter on the sides and the bottom, and has darker mottled areas. The skin is smooth. Male mud turtles are generally larger than the females, and they also have a large tail. The legs of the Mexican Mud Turtle are strong with long claws and webbed feet.

Interesting Fact: An interesting feature of all mud turtles is their hinged shell. The underside has a hinge on the front and rear end with an area in the middle that is immobile. These hinges allow the turtle to protect itself by pulling the soft parts of its body into the shell and help to close it completely.

Mud turtles forage for food by walking on the bottom of a shallow pool, hunting for small invertebrates and eating plants. They will pretty much eat whatever they can find, depending on location and season, and will be either omnivorous or carnivorous.

Mexican Mud Turtles will often lay multiple clutches of eggs during a single breeding season, depositing anywhere from one to five eggs in each. These eggs are small, white, and brittle, only measuring 1 x 0.5 inches (30 x 16 mm). They usually take about three to five months to hatch, but this is dependant upon local weather and conditions. Although the mating ritual for mud turtles is not as complicated as other turtles and tortoises, it is still fairly complex and is a process that is spread out over many days. The male will often follow the female around, sniffing at her. He will nudge her or they will meet face to face, and the female will often move away, rejecting him. This will be repeated until she finally submits.

Further Information on the Mexican Mud Turtle:

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Bibliography:
Mud Turtles. Encarta Encyclopedia, © 2000.
Kinosternon integrum. Accessed 08/22/04 at http://www.vivanatura.org/Kinosternon%20integrum.html.
ADW: Kinosternidae: Information. Accessed on 08/22/04 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Kinosternidae.html.