The Little Turtle We Seldom See

The Little Turtle We Seldom See

By Kelly Wallace

With the Snapping Turtle grabbing the spotlight for its prehistoric grandeur and being Ontario’s largest freshwater turtle species we thought it time to shine a little light on Ontario’s smallest turtle. Meet the Eastern Musk Turtle measuring in at an average length of 8 to 14 cm (about 3 to 5 inches). Nicknamed the ‘Stinkpot’ what this turtle lacks in size it makes up for in presence releasing a foul odor from musk glands in the skin just below the upper shell to deter predators. 

The Eastern Musk Turtle is native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is listed as ‘Special Concern’ under the Provincial Endangered Species Act, ‘Threatened’ under the Federal Species at Risk Act, and a ‘Specially Protected Reptile’ under the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act.

The carapace (shell) of the musk turtle is narrow, arched, and smooth. Its color varies from olive green, brown, to almost black. The musk turtle has a large head with a pointed snout, two white/yellow stripes that extend along the sides of the head and neck from the nose, above and below the eyes. These stripes fade on older musk turtles. The musk turtle has a long neck and short legs. Like the snapping turtle, the musk turtle’s plastron (under shell) is reduced to allow for greater leg movements. The musk turtle may live more than 25 years in the wild.

Some Interesting Facts

Musk turtles are rarely found on land, leaving the water only to nest or find new habitats. Out of water, they dehydrate much faster than other turtles. 

They can occasionally be seen basking near the surface of still waters, amid the vegetation, on top of emerging rocks, logs, or angled tree trunks. The musk turtle is known to climb branches of shrubs and trees overhanging the water.

As the season progresses and water temperature increases musk turtles disperse to deeper waters. There they crawl rather than swim along muddy bottoms in search of food. 

The Eastern Musk Turtle was a mystery for years because it does not come up for air and does not have the cloaca bursae used for oxygen uptake as do snapping turtles. The musk turtle’s skin is too thick to breathe through and is poorly supplied with blood. It was a revelation to discover the musk turtle uses its tongue for aquatic respiration as such it is lined with papillae that absorb oxygen from the water.

Musk turtles are scavengers and eat from the bottom floor of ponds, rivers, and creeks. They have barbels (fleshy whiskers) under their chin and throat which are sensory organs. These assist in finding food in murky water.

So much of the musk turtle’s time is spent submerged in the water algae grows on their shells causing them to blend in among the plants and algae-covered stones. Sightings are rare. If you are lucky enough to spot a musk turtle treasure the moment. 

To contact the author e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or visit the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative website at http://www.thinkturtle.ca

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