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Yellow-necked Mud Turtle
- Colouration
- With the greater number of specimens the upper shell is possibly lighter in colour than the carapace of the common mud turtle, being yellowish-brown, yellowish-green or olive. The margins of the shields are narrowly bordered with black. The plastron is yellow.
- Dimensions
- Length of Carapace . . . . . 4 3/8 inches.
- Distribution
- The range of this species is from Arkansas (inclusive) through Texas and into Arizona. It probably inhabits several of the rivers of northern Mexico.
From the standpoint of form, size and colouration, this species is similar to the common mud turtle, to which it is closely allied. From a technical view it is described as possessing differences in the outlines of the shields composing the plastron--the same pertaining to the sutures between the pectoral and humeral shields. These differences may be studied from the illustrations.
The upper surface of the head is generally uniform olive, while the sides of the head and neck are bright yellow. The eye is bright yellow, with a horizontal bar of black through the centre of the iris.
Male specimens possess much longer tails than the females. (A character to be noted with all the species.)
Width of Carapace . . . . . 3 1/4 inches.
Length of Plastron . . . . . 4 1/8 inches.
Width of Front Lobe, at Hinge . . . . . 2 1/4 inches.
Width of Rear Lobe, at Hinge . . . . . 2 1/4 inches.