Striped Mud Turtle

Kinosternon baurii — Kinosternidae

3–4 inches

IUCN

Least Concern

Federal (US)

None

Virginia

None

VWAP Tier

Not Listed

Habitat

aquaticsemi-aquaticwetland

Found in Virginia

Coastal plain

How to identify

Three light stripes running along the carapace
Two light stripes on the head
Small, 3–4 inches
Brown carapace
Coastal plain habitat only in Virginia

About this species

The striped mud turtle is at the northern edge of its range in southeastern Virginia and is less common than its close relative the eastern mud turtle. It is distinguished by light stripes running along the carapace and on the head.

Often confused with

Eastern Mud Turtle

Eastern mud turtles have a plain brown carapace without stripes

Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot)

Musk turtles have stripes on the head only, not on the carapace

Did you know

"Striped mud turtles are one of the rarest turtles in Virginia, found only in a few coastal counties — a Virginia sighting is worth reporting to the Virginia Herpetological Society."

Sightings & citizen science

Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.

View Striped Mud Turtle observations on iNaturalist ↗

Found one injured?

If you've found an injured or displaced Striped Mud Turtle in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.

Triage guide →