Missouri Animals Yellow mud turtle   (Kinosternon flavescens) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Testudines: (Turtles) Native North American turtle Habitat: river sloughs, and lakes. Diet: insects, snails, crayfish, tadpoles, dead fish. ID Features: tan shell with dark margins separating the shell scales, yellow head. Natural History: The yellow mud turtle is a basking turtle that reaches 5 in carapace length. Muddy bottoms are preferred..

The graphics and text are from: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom R. Johnson, Missouri Department of Conservation, ©1992