Intermediate musk turtle
Appearance
Intermediate musk turtle | |
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This turtle was crawling along a riverbed. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Kinosternidae |
Genus: | Sternotherus |
Species: | S. intermedius
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Binomial name | |
Sternotherus intermedius Scott, Glenn & Rissler, 2017[1]
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Sternotherus intermedius is a species of small turtle native to Alabama, United States. It is also known as the aliflora musk turtle or intermediate musk turtle due to its intermediate patterns on the shell.[2] For a long time, it was thought to be a hybrid between the two subspecies of the loggerhead musk turtle (the loggerhead and striped-neck musk turtle), but in 2017, it was declared a new species based on DNA research. It is endemic to the Choctawhatchee River and Conecuh River basins.[3][4]
References
[edit]- ^ Scott, Peter A.; Glenn, Travis C.; Rissler, Leslie J. (2018) [2017]. "Resolving taxonomic turbulence and uncovering cryptic diversity in the musk turtles (Sternotherus) using robust demographic modeling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 120: 1–15. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.008. PMID 29158032.
- ^ "New Species Of Turtle Is Discovered In Alabama". NPR. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Resolving Taxonomic Turbulence and Uncovering Cryptic Diversity in the Musk Turtles (Sternotherus) Using Robust Demographic Modeling; Sternotherus intermedius". Novataxa. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Byington, Pat (16 December 2017). "Meet the intermediate musk turtle, Alabama's newest turtle species". Bham Now. Retrieved 27 December 2017.