| Intermediate musk turtle | |
|---|---|
| |
| This turtle was crawling along a riverbed. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Kinosternidae |
| Genus: | Sternotherus |
| Species: | S. intermedius
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sternotherus intermedius Scott, Glenn & Rissler, 20171
| |
Sternotherus intermedius is a species of small turtle native to Alabama, United States. It is also known as the aliflora musk turtle or intermediate musk turtle due to its intermediate patterns on the shell.2 For a long time, it was thought to be a hybrid between the two subspecies of the loggerhead musk turtle (the loggerhead and striped-neck musk turtle), but in 2017, it was declared a new species based on DNA research. It is endemic to the Choctawhatchee River and Conecuh River basins.34
References
References
- Scott, Peter A.; Glenn, Travis C.; Rissler, Leslie J. (2018) [2017]. "Resolving taxonomic turbulence and uncovering cryptic diversity in the musk turtles (Sternotherus) using robust demographic modeling". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 120: 1–15. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.11.008. PMID 29158032.
- "New Species Of Turtle Is Discovered In Alabama". NPR. 26 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- "Resolving Taxonomic Turbulence and Uncovering Cryptic Diversity in the Musk Turtles (Sternotherus) Using Robust Demographic Modeling; Sternotherus intermedius". Novataxa. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- Byington, Pat (16 December 2017). "Meet the intermediate musk turtle, Alabama's newest turtle species". Bham Now. Retrieved 27 December 2017.