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Kinosternon scorpioides

Kinosternon scorpioides

Linnaeus 1766
Tortuga Barrosa

Family: Kinosternidae
Order: Testudines
Class: Reptilia
Phylum / Division: Chordata
Kingdom: Animalia

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Description


The scorpion mud turtle or Tabasco mud turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides) is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. It is found in Mexico, Central and South America.

 The scorpion mud turtle is a medium to large kinosternid (mud turtle) with a domed, oval upper shell 92–270 mm (3.6–10.6 in) long. Males regularly exceed 200 mm. The scorpion mud turtle is a highly aquatic, adaptable kinosternid that will live in almost any body of water.

Subspecies: 
+SubspeciesCommon nameImage
K. s. scorpioides]]Scorpion mud turtleframeless]]
K. s. albogulare]]White-throated mud turtleframeless]]
K. s. cruentatum]]Red-cheeked mud turtleframeless]]


Diet: It is primarily omnicarnivorous, a glutton, and feeds on a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates (such as insects and their larvae, spiders, shrimp, crabs, snails and worms) and vertebrates (such as fish and frogs), as well as carrion and bird eggshells.

It also feeds on plant material such as algae, fruits, flowers, nuts, seeds and aquatic plants.

In captivity, poorly fed K. scorpioides´´ can be cannibalistic, biting off the toes and limbs of conspecifics.

Reproduction and habitat: Females probably lay 1 to 6 hard-shelled eggs. Like many kinosternids, they probably construct a shallow terrestrial nest with little cover.

Source: Wikipedia, article Kinosternon scorpioides. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 16/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Count: 2

Foto
Photography ID: 123206
  Adult

Pozo del Tigre
Formosa
Argentina
05/27/2015
Walter Prado
Foto
Photography ID: 23028
  Adult

Ingeniero Juárez
Formosa
Argentina
05/14/2013
Carlos Agulian


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Species records

Count: 2



Page 1 of 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
35637527/05/2015ArgentinaFormosaRp 26, Pozo del TigreWalter Prado
6180014/05/2013ArgentinaFormosaIngeniero JuárezCarlos Agulian
Page 1 of 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Kinosternon scorpioides – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 15/09/2026.