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Common Mud Turtle

Kinosternon subrubrum

Reptile · family Kinosternidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Common Mud Turtle
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Hhmb assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
22 states[3]
Longest recorded life
40 years[4]

The Common Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) is a reptile in the family Kinosternidae[5]. It is ranked Secure worldwide by NatureServe and is native to 22 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Common Mud Turtle G5 (Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. Some states rank it differently[8]. Each state has its own rank, shown in the state table[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Common Mud Turtle lives

NatureServe lists this turtle as native in 22 US states and territories[3]. They are Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia[3]. Most GBIF observation records come from Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas and Florida, but those counts follow where people look and report[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank S3ILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank S1NYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: native, state rank S1INOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: native, state rank S1PANew Jersey: native, state rank SNRNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S3KYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank S3FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (22 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
FloridaS3Vulnerable
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS3Vulnerable
IndianaS1Critically Imperiled
KentuckyS3Vulnerable
LouisianaS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New JerseySNRNot Ranked
New YorkS1Critically Imperiled
North CarolinaS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS1Critically Imperiled
South CarolinaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure

Habitat

This turtle lives in shallow water that moves slowly or not at all, with a soft bottom and plenty of water plants[11]. It can be fresh or brackish water, and wet meadows are used too[11]. NatureServe lists herbaceous wetland, forested wetland, riparian, creek, pool and shallow water habitats[12]. It often walks over land and is basically a bottom-dweller[11].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

Adults eat insects, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibian larvae, carrion and water plants[13]. NatureServe records the typical length as 12 cm (5 in)[14]. Females lay eggs in a nest dug in soft soil not far from water[11]. Clutches are often 2 to 4 eggs[15]. Turtles become sexually mature in 4 to 6 years[15]. The longest recorded lifespan is 40 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 12 cm (5 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 40 years (wild)
Litter or clutch size[16] 4
Gestation or incubation[17] 76 days
Female maturity[18] 1,825 days (about 5.0 years)
Food habits[19] Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore

When to look for it

In the south this turtle is active all year, while in the north it hibernates in the cold season[20]. In summer it is mostly active around dawn and dusk, which are the crepuscular hours[20]. In South Carolina, turtles stayed fairly inactive on higher ground for about 170 days, starting in late summer[20]. GBIF records peak in April, May and June, which shows when people report the turtle and not how many there are[21].

January: 94 recordsJanFebruary: 289 recordsFebMarch: 1,173 recordsMarApril: 2,119 recordsAprMay: 2,276 recordsMayJune: 1,778 recordsJunJuly: 1,025 recordsJulAugust: 636 recordsAugSeptember: 565 recordsSepOctober: 306 recordsOctNovember: 102 recordsNovDecember: 83 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January94
February289
March1,173
April2,119
May2,276
June1,778
July1,025
August636
September565
October306
November102
December83

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Common Mud Turtle as present in 24 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Florida[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Common Mud Turtle endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide[2].
Where does the Common Mud Turtle live?
It is native to 22 US states and territories, including Florida, Texas, Virginia and New York[3]. It lives in shallow, slow or still water with a soft bottom[11].
What does the Common Mud Turtle eat?
Its diet includes insects, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibian larvae, carrion and water plants[13].
How big is a Common Mud Turtle?
NatureServe records a typical length of 12 cm (5 in)[14].
How long does a Common Mud Turtle live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 40 years in the wild[4]. This is a record and not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Common Mud Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Common Mud Turtle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Common Mud Turtle as native in 22 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 40 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Common Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) is a reptile in the family Kinosternidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Common Mud Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Common Mud Turtle: Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas, Florida. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Common Mud Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Common Mud Turtle: Herbaceous wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Common Mud Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 12 cm (5 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Common Mud Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  17. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 76 days. AnAge
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,825 days (about 5.0 years). AnAge
  19. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on phenology for Common Mud Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Common Mud Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Common Mud Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Hhmb assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.