Giant musk turtle
| Giant musk turtle | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Kinosternidae |
| Subfamily: | Staurotypinae |
| Genus: | Staurotypus |
| Species: | S. salvinii |
| Binomial name | |
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Staurotypus salvinii Gray, 1864 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The giant musk turtle (Staurotypus salvinii ) is a species of kinosternid turtle, which is endemic to Central America.
S. salvinii is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico (Chiapas and Oaxaca).
The specific name, salvinii, is in honor of English naturalist and herpetologist Osbert Salvin.
S. salvinii are typically much larger than other species of Kinosternidae, attaining sizes of up to 36 cm (14 inches) carapace length, with males being significantly smaller than females. They are typically brown, black, or green in color, with a yellow underside. The carapace is distinguished by three distinct ridges, or keels which run its length.
Like other musk turtle species, S. salvinii is carnivorous, eating various types of aquatic invertebrates, as well as fish and carrion.
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