User:Pavit paul/sandbox

The Scorpion mud turtle also known as Kinosternon scorpioides is mainly found in the southern parts of Panama over most of the northern part pf south America particularly in regions of Ecuador, Northern Peru, Southern Bolivia and Northern Argentina. It is a medium to large sized mud turtle. The adult males can grow upto 200mm in carapace length. It is an omnivorous turtle.

Habitat
The species inhabitants a variety of fresh watercourses that consist of lakes, rivers, pond and streams. These places consist of rich number of aquatic plant and aquatic animals. The water body has a sediment layer of soil at the bottom. If the water dries up the turtle buries itself in the sediments at the bottom of the water body.

Sexual Dimorphism
The species is recognized by its elongated shell. The shell is arched and can range from light brown to dark brown also sometimes black in colour. The underside of the scorpion mud turtle is light brown to yellowish in colour. The males tail is thick and long and has a sort of a nail at the end. the males have a large amount of pigmentation and a greater developed upper jaw. The name scorpion comes from the nail or spine on the tip of its tail. The females tail is however short with a small sort of small nail.

Reproductive Cycle
Mature females lay upto five clutches of 1-8 eggs during a reproductive season. The turtle hatchlings spend majority of their time hid in the sediment, they emerge occasionally for food and air. They are mostly spotted during the time of sunset or sunrise. As the hatchlings grow older, their shells harden and emerge and stay out for a longer period of time.

Life Expectancy
Life expectancy is approx. 44.7 years (captivity).

Subspecies

 * Scorpion mud turtle (subspecies) - Kinosternon scorpioides scorpioides (Linnaeus, 1766)
 * Central Chiapas mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides abaxillare (Baur, 1925)
 * White-throated mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides albogulare (Duméril and Bibron, 1870)
 * Red-cheeked mud turtle - Kinosternon scorpioides cruentatum (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1851)