mud turtle
Mucky pond dweller
A mud turtle is any of several small freshwater turtles found in North and Central America, named for their habit of burrowing into muddy pond and stream bottoms.
They rarely exceed five inches in length and are often kept as pets.
Related to musk turtles, they share the ability to release a foul-smelling secretion when threatened.
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- ectothermOrganism heated externally
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- shellHard outer covering
- dome-shapedCurved like half-globe
keeled · hinged · bony · keratin · vertebrae · webbed feet · claws · beak
Small still body
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
stream · slough · estuary · basking · mudflat · sediment · silt · algae
Animal's dug dwelling
- digUnearth by shoveling
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- hibernateTorpor through cold months
- nestAnimal-built shelter for young
bury · dormant · embed · submerge · den · overwinter · tunnel · soil
Able to recover quickly
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- long-livedHaving extended lifespan
- survivorOne still alive after
- tolerantAccepting of differences
opportunistic · omnivorous · drought-resistant · tenacious · robust · enduring · low-maintenance · undemanding
chelonian
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- ectothermOrganism heated externally
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
herpetology · terrapin · species · genus · stinkpot
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
dome-shaped · keeled · hinged · bony · keratin · vertebrae · webbed feet · claws · beak · tail
pond
Small still body
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
freshwater · stream · slough · estuary · basking · mudflat · sediment · silt · algae · aquatic plants
burrow
Animal's dug dwelling
nest · bury · dormant · embed · submerge · den · overwinter · tunnel · soil · clay
resilient
Able to recover quickly
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- long-livedHaving extended lifespan
- survivorOne still alive after
tolerant · opportunistic · omnivorous · drought-resistant · tenacious · robust · enduring · low-maintenance · undemanding · persistent
mud turtlesea turtle
Ocean-dwelling shelled reptile
marine turtle · desert tortoise · loggerhead turtle · leatherback turtle · green sea turtle
mud turtlealligator snapping turtle
Large freshwater chelonian with beak
snapping turtle · snapper · giant tortoise · leatherback turtle
mud, muddy, turtle, muddied, muddying, turtling, muddiness, muddler, muddily