mud turtles
Bottom-dwelling shelled creatures
Mud turtles are small freshwater turtles native to the Americas, typically found in slow-moving or stagnant water with muddy bottoms.
They rarely exceed six inches in length and are known for burrowing into mud during dry spells or cold weather.
Popular in the pet trade for their manageable size and hardiness.
- terrapinSmall edible marsh turtle
- fossorial behaviorAdapted for digging underground
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- plastronVentral shell portion
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
shell · soft shell · basking · freshwater · estivation · herpetology · nesting habits · omnivorous diet · aquatic · aquatic habitats · defensive behavior · thermal regulation · hibernate · ectothermy · webbed feet · scutes · bottom dweller · creek bed
mud turtlesalligator snapping turtles
Largest freshwater chelonians in North America
tortoises · desert tortoises · snapping turtles · sea turtles · box turtles
mud turtlesleatherback turtles
Biggest sea-going chelonians
sea turtles · loggerhead turtles · alligator snapping turtles · green sea turtles · hawksbill turtles