Identification
A subspecies of the Yellow
Mud Turtle, this turtle’s soft parts, i.e., head, neck, and limbs,
are black or dark grey in color. The carapace is dark brown, and the yellow
pigment appears only on the barbels on the front half of the lower jaw.
Distribution and Status
The Illinois Mud Turtle occurs only in northwest Illinois, Iowa and Missouri,
and is listed as State Endangered in all three states. (US
distribution map; Midwest
distribution map).
Ecology
Inhabiting quiet permanent and temporary waterways, the Yellow Mud Turtle prefers
habitats such as swamps, sloughs, sinkholes, rivers, creeks, ponds, lakes, and
even cattle tanks. These turtles are known to migrate between bodies of water,
and will seek refuge by burying themselves in the mud if a temporary water-body
has dried up.
Threats and Management Issues
Humans pose the greatest threat to these turtles, killing them on roads, destroying
areas of suitable habitat and polluting it with pesticides. A variety of animals
also eat the eggs and juveniles of this species.
Resources
Ernst. C. H., J. E. Lovich and R. W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, USA.
General reference guides and websites.
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499