Yellow Mud Turtle
Kinosternon flavescens
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- K. flavescens – Graham co, AZ – photo by Tom Brennan
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Kinosternon flavescens occurs in most of Texas, eastern and southern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona.
LEGAL STATUS: No listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Kinosternon flavescens (Agassiz – 1857)
Genus: Kinosternon, Greek – kineo = move + sternon = chest, breast — ref. their ability to move lower shell
Species: flavescens, Latin – flavus = yellow + escens = becoming (“-ish”) — ref. yellow color on underside of jaw and throat
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962