Sternotherus minor (Agassiz) – Loggerhead Musk Turtle
Sternotherus minor – Loggerhead Musk Turtle

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Legend
     Exact locality, based on specimen(s) or photographs examined
     Exact locality, based on literature record believed valid
     Approximate locality based on specimen(s) or photographs examined
     Approximate locality based on literature record believed valid
     County record only, based on specimens or photographs examined
     County record only, based on literature report believed valid
     Type locality
?      Questionable and/or problematic record

Taxonomy: Of the two subspecies of Sternotherus minor listed by Iverson et al. (2012), only S. m. peltifer (Stripe-necked Musk Turtle) occurs in Tennessee (Conant and Collins 1998). 

Distribution: In East Tennessee, the Loggerhead Musk Turtle is known from the northern to the southern border in several Tennessee River drainages. The species is also known from Tennessee River drainages in four counties in western Middle Tennessee.  There are questionable records from the Cumberland River drainage in Overton and Rutherford counties.  No records exist from West Tennessee. 

Museum Records by Counties: Blount—FLMNH 18143; GSMNH 4170-4174, 4176-4179, 10921-10923; NCSM 40867.  Bradley—INHS 13368; NCSM 40860; TU 21408-21411, 29588, 29589, 31195-31198, 31246.  Claiborne—USNM 86678-86680, 86766-86768, 86770-86777.  Cumberland—LSUMZ 35421.  Hamilton—USNM 142496.  Hancock—AMNH R-129366.  Hardin—APSU 19326, 19671.  Houston—APSU 3011, 6049, 17578-17585, 17591, 17593-17611, 17614, 17714.  Humphreys—APSU 3252, 17586-17590, 17592, 17612, 17613, 17615, 17616, 18015.  Lewis—NLU 50175.  Meigs—FLMNH 18139-18141.  Monroe—NCSM 17917; USNM 221787; UTKVZC 6780-83.   Morgan—APSU 19875.  Polk—FLMNH 18993, 22393; INHS 10425; NLU 53025- 53033; USNM 246927; UTKVZC 6778.  Roane—USNM 86793.  Sullivan—UMMZ 100919.  Wayne—AMNH R-117848; USNM 246928. 

Literature Sources by Counties: AndersonMeyers-Schöne and Walton (1990), Meyers-Schöne et al. (1993).  Blount—King (1939), Huheey and Stupka (1967), Iverson (1974), Seidel and Lucchino  (1981). Claiborne—Tinkle (1958).  Hardin—Foster et al. (2013).  Houston—Scott et al. (2000), Williamson (2001a), Williamson and Scott (2001a, 2001b), Ennen (2005), Ennen and Scott (2005, 2008, 2013).  Humphreys—Williamson (2001a), Williamson and Scott (2001a, 2001b), Ennen and Scott (2005, 2008, 2013).  Marion—Wilson et al. (2012).  Meigs—Iverson (1974).  Monroe—Tinkle (1958), Seidel and Lucchino (1981), Walker et al. (1995).  Morgan—Hromada et al. (2018).  Overton—Tinkle (1958).   Polk—Tinkle (1958).  Roane—Rhoads (1895), Stejneger (1923), Tinkle (1958), Johnson (1964).  Rutherford—Edney (1949).   Sullivan—Tinkle (1958), Iverson (1974). 

Questionable and/or Erroneous Records: No voucher specimens or photographs were located to substantiate the reports of Sternotherus minor from Rutherford (Edney 1949) or Overton (Tinkle 1958) counties.  Since these are the only reports of the species from the Cumberland River drainage, it seems prudent to regard these records as questionable until photographs or voucher specimens are obtained from this river system.

Conservation Status: None. 

Posted: 27 February 2009

Latest Revision: 5 February 2019


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