Distinguishing characteristics of musk turtles (Sternotherus) and mud turtles (Kinosternon)

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Summary.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;background-color:#f8f9fa;padding:5px;font-size:95%;border-spacing:2px;box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;width:100%}.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr{vertical-align:top}.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>th,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>th{padding:4px}.mw-parser-output.fileinfo-paramfield{background:#ccf;text-align:right;padding-right:0.4em;width:15%;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+div.commons-file-information-table>table{border-top:0;padding-top:0;margin-top:-8px}@media only screen and (max-width:719px){.mw-parser-output table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table.fileinfotpl-type-information{border-spacing:0;padding:0;word-break:break-word;width:100%!important}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody{display:block}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr>th,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>td,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr>th{padding:0.2em 0.4em;text-align:left;text-align:start}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output.fileinfotpl-type-information>tbody>tr{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+table.commons-file-information-table,.mw-parser-output.commons-file-information-table+div.commons-file-information-table>table{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output.fileinfo-paramfield{box-sizing:border-box;flex:1 0 100%;width:100%}} Description: English: Distinguishing characteristics between musk turtles (Sternotherus) and the closely related mud turtles (Kinosternon) include a smaller plastron with legs exposed vs. a large plastron with legs concealed and: A, pectoral scute squarish vs. triangular; B, hinges less developedt vs. well developed; C, skin between plastron scutes. This image is a composite of two public domain images: Eastern musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) Caroline County, Maryland (14 May 2013). Photo by Robert Aguilar, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. DentonNE_14May2013_EMST_01 File:DentonNE_14May2013_EMST_01_(16590510995).jpg Eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) Lafayette County, Mississippi (22 April 2014) Fredlyfish4 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kinosternon_subrubrum_UMFS_2014_1.JPG. Date: 14 May 2013 11:22:44Feb 8, 2022. Source: Own work. Author: William L. Farr.