Common Names

Habitat
"The Sonora mud turtle has the most extensive range of the three mud turtles in Arizona. They are found in streams, ponds, and stock tanks in central and southern Arizona. Their range also extends into western New Mexico and north-central Mexico. There are two subspecies in Arizona: Kinosternon sonoriense sonoriense, which is commonly referred to as the Sonora mud turtle and is found in most of the species’ Arizona range, and Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale, commonly referred to as the Sonoyta mud turtle and found only in Quitobaquito Pond in Arizona and a few isolated sites in Sonora, Mexico. " Arizona Game & Fish Department

Description
"The Sonora mud turtle has a keeled, olive-brown carapace. The throat and neck are brown with yellow reticulations and there are prominent tubercles under the chin. It reaches approximately 7 inches in length."
Comments
"Although aquatic, the Sonora mud turtle may be seen on land as it travels between bodies of water. It is usually diurnally active, but becomes more nocturnal during the monsoon season. It feeds on invertebrates and small vertebrates, including fish and amphibians, but it also eats carrion and some plant matter." Arizona Game & Fish Department

Regulations
The Sonoyta mud turtle, because it exists in vulnerable, isolated populations in such a small area, is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, meaning its status is still under consideration. A hunting license is required to collect mud turtles in Arizona.

A hunting license is required to collect all other mud turtles in Arizona.


How You Can Help
Keep wild turtles wild. Do not collect turtles from the wild. Removing turtles from the wild depletes natural turtle populations, which can lead to local extinctions in species like mud turtles that reproduce slowly.

Keep captive turtles captive. Do not release your captive turtles, and make sure that your turtle’s enclosure is secure so that it cannot escape. Captive turtles that are released into the wild can become established, compete for resources, and displace resident turtles. If released, captive turtles can also spread disease that could kill resident turtles.