Mexican mud turtle

Not to be confused with Rough-footed mud turtle.

Mexican mud turtle
File:Kinosternon integrum 444696523 (cropped).jpg
In Jalisco
Conservation status
Least Concern Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Kinosternidae
Genus:	Kinosternon
Species:	K. integrum
Binomial name
Kinosternon integrum (Le Conte, 1854)
Synonyms
List Kinosternum integrum LeConte, 1854 Cinosternum integrum Agassiz, 1857 Thyrosternum integrum Agassiz, 1857 Thyrosternon integrum Gray, 1858 Cinosternon integrum Strauch, 1862 Kinosternon integrum Müller, 1865 Swanka integra Gray, 1870 Cinosternon rostellum Bocourt, 1876 Cinosternon guanajuatense Dugès, 1888 Cinosternum rostellum Boulenger, 1889 Cinosternum scorpioides integrum Siebenrock, 1904 Kinosternon scorpioides integrum Ahl, 1934 Kinosternon intergrum Dixon, 1960 (ex errore) Cinosetum integrum Gillet, 1995 Kinosternon ingegrum Rogner, 1996 (ex errore)

The Mexican mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum), is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. Endemic to Mexico, they inhabit moist environments, such as shallow ponds, lakes, rivers or intermediate temp. tropical forest areas.

Distribution

In Mexico, it is found in Aguascalientes, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, México, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.

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  Guanajuato
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  Guanajuato
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  Querétaro
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  Guanajuato
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  Guanajuato
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  Guanajuato

Reproduction

File:Kinosternon integrum, Mexican Mud Turtle, Tamaulipas.jpg

Sub-adult in Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The Mexican mud turtle's nesting season lasts from early May to September, beginning just prior to the summer rainy season. A typical clutch size for each female is 2 to 4 eggs, but can range between 1 and 8.

Another distinctive feature within the species is the nostrils on male and female turtles. The females have a more rounded nostril and the nostril is more brownish as to yellow like the male.

The Mexican mud turtle is an organism that "bet hedges" meaning that its organism fitness varies depending on the condition it is in. When in a relaxed, every-day state, its fitness levels are low, however when stressed its fitness level increases. Bet hedging affects this organism's reproductive window as well, allowing it to only reproduce every two to three seasons.

Diet

Mexican mud turtles are omnivores. Some of the plants consumed include: Filamentous algae, grass seeds, guava seeds, etcetera. Some of the animals consumed include: Ants, wasps, bees, etcetera. It has been found that during the dry seasons, females tend to eat more plant matter than males.

Sources

• Le Conte, 1854: "Description of four new species of Kinosternum". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 7: 180–190.
• Macip-Ríos, Rodrigo & Zuñiga Vega, Jaime & Brauer Robleda, Pablo & Casas-Andreu, Gustavo (2011). "Demography of two populations of the Mexican mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum) in central Mexico". Herpetological Journal. 21.