Added 6 August 2009. Last updated 2 June 2024: updated characteristics of genus and both species.
Two largeish species, which together with the single Claudius species form the subfamily Staurotypinae. Alderton considers that they are most easily distinguished from each other by colour. Staurotypus occur in waters that are also inhabited by crocodilians, which may account for their thicker shell size and aggressive nature.
Boulenger specifies the characteristics of the genus as follows: carapace much depressed, tricarinate; marginal shields, one azygos nuchal and 11 pairs. Plastron narrow, cruciform, angular posteriorly, articulating with the marginals by suture, anterior lobe movable; with four pairs of shields, of which the posterior or anal are usually coalesced into a single shield; a very small gular may be present; abdominals separated from the marginals by two shields. Beak scarcely hooked; jaws with a single sharp edge: orbits directed upwards; postorbital and temporal arches moderate. Chin with a pair of barbels. Digits webbed. Tail short. Other characteristics of the genus include three prominent keels on the carapace which thicken with age, and the broad head which terminates in a pointed snout.
I have not heard much about these turtles in captivity, but Müller recommends an optimal temperature of 25 deg C, with the temperature not being allowed to fall below 20 deg C, and that given their antisocial and aggressive nature, even the bringing together of animals for mating should be carefully monitored.
|
Species Name |
Common Name |
Location |
Size |
Notes |
|
Staurotypus |
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|
S. salvinii |
Chiapas Giant Musk Turtle, Gnau [D: Salvin-Kreuzbrustschildkröte] |
S Mexico, S Guatemala, El Salvador |
Max 25cm
|
A mainly nocturnal species that spends almost all of its life in the water, coming on to land mainly for egg laying. It apparently aestivates in the earth in the dry season. Carapace: tricarinate, solidly sutured to plastron; bridge narrow, its diameter more than five times in the length of the plastron (5½ to 7 times in females, 7½| to 10 times in males). Plastron: plastron covers about 1/3 of the underside; anterior lobe of plastron semielliptic or angular; a small gular shield is present or absent; suture between the humerals the longest humerals form the longest central suture; abdominals are much wider than long; inframarginal shields usually not longer than broad. Other: ??. Coloration: carapace is dark olive to brownish black or black. Reproduction: no details for wild; see Müller for notes on the possible relation of temperature to incubation time. [SOURCES, Boulenger: Müller] |
|
S. triporcatus |
Mexican Giant Musk Turtle [D: Große Kreuzbrustschildkröte] |
Mexico, N Guatemala, Belize, NW Honduras |
14-16"/35-40cm |
In addition to feeding on molluscs it also preys on smaller kinosternid turtles in the same waters [Alderton]. Hunted by locals. Müller reported very rapid growth in young of the species, as well as their keen appetite. Carapace: low; posterior margin lacks serrations; bridge firmly sutured to carapace, comparatively broad, its diameter about four times and a half in the length of the plastron. Plastron: reduced, cruciform, with movable hinge; anterior lobe of plastron broad, with the longitudinal borders straight or slightly concave; the suture between the pectorals is the longest; the suture between the latter shields and the abdominals strongly sinuous; the greatest length of the abdominal shields equals their width ; inframarginals longer than broad; no gular shield. Other: head large, jaws slightly hooked; pair of barbels on throat; limbs short, muscular, with extensive webbing on digits. Coloration: carapace usually brown with lighter seams, dark brown streaks and radiations; plastron yellow, cream, sometimes with dark seams; head and neck olive, dark brown or grey with light reticulation; appendages dark grey. Reproduction: male has long, thick tail, female a shorter and narrower one. Nesting apparently in dry season; clutch of 3-6 eggs. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Lee] |
Turtles and Tortoises of the World, David Alderton, Blandford, London 1999.
Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Maya World, Julian C Lee, Cornell University Press, 2000.
Schildkröten, Gerhard Müller, Eugen Ullmer, Stuttgart 1995.
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