Tabasco mud turtle

Tabasco mud turtle
In Belize
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Kinosternidae
Genus: Kinosternon
Species:
K. acutum
Binomial name
Kinosternon acutum
Gray, 1831
Synonyms
List
  • Kinosternon scorpioides var. acuta Gray, 1831
  • Cinosternum berendtianum Cope, 1865
  • Cinosternon berendtianum Troschel, 1866
  • Cinosternon effeldtii Peters, 1873
  • Cinosternum effeldtii Günther, 1885
  • Cinosternum effeldti Gadow, 1905 (ex errore)
  • Kinosternon berendtianum Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934
  • Kinosternon acutum Stejneger, 1941
  • Kinosternon berentianum Duellman, 1965 (ex errore)

The Tabasco mud turtle (Kinosternon acutum), commonly known as pochitoque in Tabasco, Mexico, is a small turtle which belongs to the family Kinosternidae. It can be found in central Veracruz, Tabasco, northern Guatemala and Belize. This turtle lives in small streams, marshes and ponds. Its feeding habits are mainly carnivorous and it is a nocturnal animal. Although this turtle doesn't have a wide range it can be common at some sites. In Tabasco this turtle is an important part of its popular culture as well as being an ingredient in Tabasco's gastronomy in spite of its special protected status.