Vallarta mud turtle

The Vallarta mud turtle (Kinosternon vogti) is a recently identified species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. While formerly considered conspecific with the Jalisco mud turtle, further studies indicated that it was a separate species. It can be identified by a combination of the number of plastron and carapace scutes, body size, and the distinctive yellow rostral shield in males.[1]

Vallarta mud turtle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Kinosternidae
Genus: Kinosternon
Species:
K. vogti
Binomial name
Kinosternon vogti
López-Luna, 2018

It is endemic to Mexican state of Jalisco. It is only known from a few human-created or human-affected habitats (such as small streams and ponds) found around Puerto Vallarta. It is one of only 3 species in Kinosternon known to inhabit the lowlands of the Central Pacific region in Mexico. Natural populations are not currently known, and the current habitats the species is known from have all been damaged by urban growth. Only one female was found during the study of the species. This makes it possibly one of the most threatened freshwater turtle species.[1] At the time of writing, nothing is known about their diet, nesting areas, mating behaviour etc.[2]

It is the smallest of the Kinosternon species present in Mexico, the collected specimens do not exceed 10 centimeters.[3]

References
  1. López-Luna, Marco A.; Cupul-Magaña, Fabio G.; Escobedo-Galván, Armando H.; González-Hernández, Adriana J.; Centenero-Alcalá, Eric; Rangel-Mendoza, Judith A.; Ramírez-Ramírez, Mariana M.; Cazares-Hernández, and Erasmo (2018). "A Distinctive New Species of Mud Turtle from Western México". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 17 (1): 2–13. doi:10.2744/CCB-1292.1. S2CID 90539038.
  2. "Kinosternon vogti (2019-2020)". www.trionyx.nl. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  3. "Descubren nueva especie de tortuga en Jalisco (in spanish)". www.conacytprensa.mx. Retrieved 2018-12-04.


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