Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Kinosternidae
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Kinosternidae is a family of turtles that includes the Mud and Musk turtles. These turtles release a foul smelling musk when disturbed, hence the common name. They are native to North and South America.
The family Kinosternidae contains 22-23 species within either three or four genera, depending on the source. They inhabit slow-moving bodies of water, often with soft bottoms and abundant vegetation.
All members of the family are carnivores, feeding on crustaceans, aquatic insects, mollusks, annelids, amphibians, and small fish.
Classification
Family Kinosternidae
- Subfamily Kinosterninae
- Genus Kinosternon
- Genus Sternotherus
- Subfamily Staurotypinae
- Genus Claudius (biology)
- Genus Staurotypus
References
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details