Flattened musk turtle

S. depressus is an endemic with a restricted range, historically inhabiting the Black Warrior River drainage of north central Alabama.Conant, Roger (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates1-48. {{ISBN|0-395-19979-4}} (hardcover), {{ISBN|0-395-19977-8}} (paperback). (Sternotherus depressus, pp. 42–43 + Plate 4 + Map 9). Serious declines have been observed throughout its range, and it has likely been extirpated from greater than 70% of its historic range, especially in much of the Mulberry Fork and the Locust Fork of the upper Black Warrior River Basin. Sipsey Fork populations have fared significantly better due to protection offered by the Bankhead National Forest.

File:Sternotherus depressus 10037872.jpg]]

A small turtle, S. depressus can have a straight carapace length of {{convert|7.5|–|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} as an adult, with a record length of {{convert|11.4|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}}.

Both the common name and specific name refer to the fact that the species' carapace (upper shell) is much lower and flatter than those of the other members of the genus Sternotherus. In fact the flattened musk turtle looks as if someone had accidentally stepped on it, hence the common name.

The flattened musk turtle is a freshwater, stream-dwelling turtle. The ideal habitat for the flattened musk turtle is a clearwater stream or river that has an adequate amount of cover sites to escape to under rocks and crevices. The shape of the flattened musk turtle allows it to fit into confined spaces, such as crevices. In absence of quality cover in rocks and crevices, the flattened musk turtle will dig under logs or brush. Juveniles will often be found in weed beds in shallow water. Dodd, C.K., Jr. 2008. Sternotherus depressus Tinkle and Webb 1955 - flattened musk turtle. In: Rhodin, A.G.J., Pritchard, P.C.H., van Dijk, P.P., Saumure, R.A., Buhlmann, K.A., and Iverson, J.B. (Eds.) Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. Chelonian Research Monographs No.5, pp. 013.1-013.7, doi: 10.3854/crm.5.013.depressus.v1.2008, http://www.iucntftsg.org/cbftt/.

S. depressus are omnivorous and mostly rely on gastropods (snails) and pelecypods (mussels) as a large part of their diet. Crayfish, insects, and seeds are also consumed by S. depressus, but are not a main food item. A greater portion of snails were detected in the feces of denser populations of S. depressus. {{Cite journal |last1=Marion |first1=Ken R. |last2=Cox |first2=William A. |last3=Ernst |first3=Carl H. |date=1991 |title=Prey of the Flattened Musk Turtle, Sternotherus depressus |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1564608 |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=385–387 |doi=10.2307/1564608 |jstor=1564608 |issn=0022-1511}}

S. depressus has an average home range of 332 meters, although home ranges as large as a kilometer were recorded. In areas of poorer habitat, it is possible that S. depressus may have to move more to fulfill its dietary needs. Light and moderate precipitation was correlated with more overall movement for S. depressus, but not overall activity (i.e. amount of time active during the day). The breeding and nesting season showed more overall activity and movement compared to the brumation season for S. depressus. {{Cite journal |last1=Jenkins |first1=A. Joseph |last2=Godwin |first2=James C. |last3=Warner |first3=Daniel A. |last4=Steen |first4=David A. |date=2022 |title=Movement Ecology of Flattened Musk Turtles (Sternotherus depressus) |url=https://doi.org/10.1670/20-129 |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.1670/20-129 |via=BioOne}}

Basking has been observed in S. depressus on rocks, trees, and logs, although it is thought to be related to disease or overall poor health. {{Cite journal |last=Dodd |first=C. Kenneth |date=1988 |title=Disease and Population Declines in the Flattened Musk Turtle Sternotherus depressus |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2425822 |journal=The American Midland Naturalist |volume=119 |issue=2 |pages=394–401 |doi=10.2307/2425822 |jstor=2425822 |issn=0003-0031}}

Individuals of S. depressus have survived for more than 20 years in captivity.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} Although reproductive rates are low for the species, S. depressus has been bred infrequently in captivity with relative success. Future propagation efforts may be key to preserving and reintroducing the species once its habitat has been restored.

The flattened musk turtle is primarily threatened by habitat alteration and habitat destruction. Strip mining for coal has increased the amount of silt and particulates in the waters of the Warrior River drainage system. S. depressus relies on rock crevices to escape predation, which are easily filled in from silt and sediment. Increased siltation in the streams also decreases the food availability for S. depressus as mollusk populations decrease. Sewage and other forms of pollution from urban areas near the Warrior Basin have also had an effect on stream biota. Secondary threats to the flattened musk turtle are illegal collection for the pet trade and disease.

Habitat fragmentation also poses a significant threat to S. depressus. Isolated populations have the potential to lose genetic viability and threaten normal population structure. Smaller isolated populations also have less resilience to human caused disturbance, and thus are more vulnerable. {{Cite journal |last=Kenneth Dodd |first=C. |date=1990 |title=Effects of habitat fragmentation on a stream-dwelling species, the flattened musk turtle Sternotherus depressus |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(90)90040-V |journal=Biological Conservation |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=33–45 |doi=10.1016/0006-3207(90)90040-v |bibcode=1990BCons..54...33K |issn=0006-3207}}

File:Sternotherus depressus 10037861.jpg|Young turtle

File:Sternotherus depressus 10037848.jpg|Young turtle

File:Sternotherus depressus 10037837.jpg|Young plastron

File:Sternotherus depressus 10037824.jpg|Young carapace

{{Reflist}}

• Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp., 657 color plates. {{ISBN|0-394-50824-6}}. (Sternotherus depressus, p. 443 + Plate 316).
• Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. {{ISBN|978-0-544-12997-9}}. (Sternotherus depressus, pp. 227–228 + Plate 19).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-307-13666-3}} (paperback), {{ISBN|0-307-47009-1}} (hardcover). (Sternotherus depressus, pp. 28–29).
• Tinkle DW, Webb RG (1955). "A New Species of Sternotherus with a Discussion of the Sternotherus carinatus Complex". Tulane Studies in Zoology 3 (3): 53–67. (Stenotherus depressus, new species).

• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/20824/all Sternotherus depressus]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140627094911/http://www.iucnredlist.org/ 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.] Downloaded on 29 July 2007.

{{Kinosternidae}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1938586}}

Category:Endemic reptiles of the United States

Category:Sternotherus

Category:Endemic fauna of Alabama

Category:Reptiles described in 1955

Category:Taxa named by Robert G. Webb

Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot