I found this little guy in the upper Conasauga River. This is well within the range of S. m. peltifer (Stripe-necked Musk Turtle), but this fellow looks to me like S. m. minor (Loggerhead Musk). Any opinions?





What are the chances that these two putative subspecies naturally occur in this river and maintain their identities? Of course, he could just be a waif or a releasee, but I have trouble imagining anyone transporting such a turtle way out into the mountains like that.

All of the other musks I've seen in the stream are perfectly good stripenecks, like these guys.

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