BI 341
An abridged taxonomic key was produced for the turtles of northwest Alabama discussed in
Biology 341. The key produced was modified from “Key to the Turtles” in Robert Mount’s The
Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. The turtles included in the abridged key are listed below.
Chelydridae- snapping turtles
Chelydra serpentina- common snapping turtle
Emydidae- water and box turtles
Chrysemys picta- southern painted turtle
Graptemys geographica- common map turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica- false map turtle
Pseudemys concinna- river cooter
Trachemys scripta- red-eared slider
Terrapene carolina- eastern box turtle
Kinosternidae- mud and musk turtles
Kinosternon subrubrum- eastern mud turtle
Sternotherus minor- stripe-neck musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratus- common musk turtle
Trionychidae- soft-shell turtles
Apalone mutica- midland smooth softshell
Apalone spinifera- eastern spiny softshell
An abridged taxonomic key was produced for the turtles of northwest Alabama discussed in
Biology 341. The key produced was modified from “Key to the Turtles” in Robert Mount’s The
Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. The turtles included in the abridged key are listed below.
Chelydridae- snapping turtles
Chelydra serpentina- common snapping turtle
Emydidae- water and box turtles
Chrysemys picta- southern painted turtle
Graptemys geographica- common map turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica- false map turtle
Pseudemys concinna- river cooter
Trachemys scripta- red-eared slider
Terrapene carolina- eastern box turtle
Kinosternidae- mud and musk turtles
Kinosternon subrubrum- eastern mud turtle
Sternotherus minor- stripe-neck musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratus- common musk turtle
Trionychidae- soft-shell turtles
Apalone mutica- midland smooth softshell
Apalone spinifera- eastern spiny softshell
