Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Flattened Musk turtle (Sternotherus depressus)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Kinosternidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The flattened musk turtle is a small aquatic turtle with a distinctly flattened carapace up to 119 millimeters (4.7 in) long. Keels are virtually, if not altogether, lacking (Mount 1981). The carapace is dark brown to orange with dark bordered seams and is slightly serrated behind (Ernest and Barbour 1972). The plastron is pink to yellowish. The head is greenish with a dark reticulum that often breaks up to form spots on the top of the snout (Mount 1981). Stripes on the top and sides of the neck, if present, are narrow. There are two barbels on the chin, all four feet are webbed, and males have thick, long, spine-tipped tails (Ernst and Barbour 1972).

Lead Region:  Southeast Region (Region 4)
Date Listed: Jun 11, 1987
Where Listed: Black Warrior R. system upstream from Bankhead Dam

  • States/US Territories in which the Flattened Musk turtle, species range clarified is known to occur:  Alabama

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 6 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
07/06/2009 74 FR 31972 31973 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 23 Southeastern Species
06/11/1987 52 FR 2242? 2243? Determination of Thr. Status for Flattened Musk Turtle (Sternotherus depressus); 52 FR 224__?
11/01/1985 50 FR 45638 45643 Proposed Thr. Status for Flattened Musk Turtle; 50 FR 45638-45643
07/18/1985 50 FR 29238 Findings on Petitions & Initiation of Status Review; 50 FR 29238
04/05/1984 49 FR 13558 13 Finding on Petition to List Flattended Musk Turtle; 49 FR 13558-13559

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
02/26/1990 Flattened Musk Turtle View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
07/06/2009 74 FR 31972 31973 Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of 23 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Flattened Musk turtle, species range clarified.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Flattened Musk turtle, species range clarified

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    07/18/1985 50 FR 29238 Findings on Petitions & Initiation of Status Review; 50 FR 29238
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 04/05/1984 49 FR 13558 13 Finding on Petition to List Flattended Musk Turtle; 49 FR 13558-13559
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009