Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have photos of natural or captive-produced intergrades between these subspecies?

The reason I ask: I found a turtle in the Conasauga River (S. m. peltifer range) that looks to me like S. m. minor. However, I have never seen minor in person, or minor X peltifer. I'm curious if this fellow might be an intergrade (greatly extending the known intergradation area) or is a good S. m. minor (which raises more questions: is he a waif, or do these two subspecies maintain their identities in the Conasauga?).

I'll post pictures of the mystery turtle later. All of the other Sternotherus that I've seen in that river looked like good S. m. peltifer.

I'm not sure about your individual but I have 3 minor minor, 2 sure minor peltifer & 1 that I have a question mark too? I don't have any means of posting a pict. but will try.

Sorry, I forgot I had posted this. Here are a couple of photos of the suspected loggerhead.

I also posted these photos in the Turtle ID thread. Sorry for the multiple-posting, but I figured it would get more views out there.

The 3 one the right are minor minor the 2 on the far left are young peltifers the 3rd from the left is my question mark. the specimen you have looks more like odoratus to me.

the 2 on left are peltifers the 1 on right is my question.

The 2 in the front are minor minor the 1 in the back is my question mark (minor X peltifer).

I'm going to post picts of my entire group I wish I knew how to get them all on here at once.

Her head shot

The last photo for now.

Yeah, that turtle does look sort of intermediate between S. minor minor and S. m. peltifer. The pattern on the side of the head is especially interesting, where the spots elongate into streaks.

My guy is definitely not a stinkpot; he has a massively enlarged head with dark spots (no light lines) and a slightly depressed carapace.