Claudius angustatus

Taxobox
name = Narrow-bridged Musk Turtle
status = LR/nt
status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Testudines
subordo = Cryptodira
superfamilia = Kinosternoidea
familia = Kinosternidae
subfamilia = Staurotypinae
genus = "Claudius"
species = "C. angustatus"
binomial = "Claudius angustatus"
binomial_authority = Cope, 1865
synonyms = "Claudius megalocephalus"

The Narrow-bridged Musk Turtle ("Claudius angustatus") is a species of musk turtle found in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. It is the only species in the genus "Claudius".

Description

Narrow-bridged Musk Turtles are typically brown in coloration. Their scutes have lines and graining that makes them almost appear wood-like. They often have bright yellow markings on the edge of the carapace. As they age, algae often heavily covers their shell, masking their patterning and coloration. Their head is large and bulbous for their size, with a long neck, and a sharp beak. Their shell is domed, with three distinct ridges down the length. Though classified in the subfamily Staurotypinae with the "giant" musk turtles, Narrow-bridged Musk Turtles generally only grow to about 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in length.

Behavior

Like all musk turtles, Narrow-bridged Musk Turtles are almost entirely aquatic, and prefer habitats such as slow moving creeks, or shallow ponds that are heavily vegetated. They spend much of their time walking along the bottom foraging for aquatic invertebrates, insects, and carrion. They have glands under the rear of their shell which they can use to release a foul smelling musk, hence their common name.

References

* [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/bis/turtles.php?menuentry=soorten&id=223 Turtles of the World: "Claudius angustatus"]
*EMBL species|genus=Claudius|species=angustatus