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Eastern Musk Turtle

Sternotherus odoratus

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.

Eastern Musk Turtle
Photo: Ontley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
35 states[3]
Longest recorded life
54.8 years[4]

The Eastern Musk Turtle is a reptile in the family Kinosternidae, also called the Stinkpot[5][6]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure worldwide, and it is native to 35 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Eastern Musk Turtle a global rank of G5 (Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][7]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[8]. The turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe estimates more than 1,000,000 adults worldwide[9]. It has no range-wide trend information, though NatureServe notes some declines and local extirpations in southern Ontario[10].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[7] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[8] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] >1,000,000 individuals

Where Eastern Musk Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the Eastern Musk Turtle as native in 35 US states and territories, including Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Maine[3]. State conservation ranks vary from state to state, and the table on this page shows each one[11]. A state list shows where the species is recorded, not where you are sure to see one.

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S3MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S2VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank SNRMNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S4NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S4MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank S2IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S4CTRhode Island: native, state rank S4RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S4KSArkansas: 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 S4LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: native, state rank S5FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (35 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ConnecticutS4Apparently Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
FloridaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS2Imperiled
KansasS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MaineS3Vulnerable
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MassachusettsS4Apparently Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaSNRNot Ranked
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
Rhode IslandS4Apparently Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
VermontS2Imperiled
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

This turtle lives in freshwater. NatureServe records habitats such as herbaceous wetland, forested wetland, riparian areas, creeks, medium rivers, springs and shallow water[12]. It uses nearly any permanent freshwater with a slow current and a soft bottom, and it may bask on tree limbs above the water[13]. In winter it hibernates in bottom mud, under rocks or in holes in banks[13]. Females lay eggs in soil, under logs and debris, or sometimes on open ground[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 14 cm (6 in)[14]. Adults are recorded as eating meat, fish, small animals without backbones and plants[15]. It mostly feeds on the bottom of the water and eats mainly aquatic invertebrates, plus plants, carrion, fishes and amphibian larvae[16]. Females reach sexual maturity at 1,277 days of age[17]. AnAge lists a longest recorded lifespan in captivity, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4]. Clutches average 2 to 3 eggs in the south and more than 3 in the north[18].

Trait Value
Typical length[14] 14 cm (6 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 54.8 years (captivity)
Female maturity[17] 1,277 days (about 3.5 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[19] non-migrant

When to look for it

In warm weather this turtle is active in the morning, evening and night, and it is more active by day in cool weather[20]. In the north it is active from April to October, and in the south for most of the year with less activity in winter[20]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant[19]. GBIF observation records peak in April, May and June, which shows when people look and report, not how many turtles there are[21]. In the north, eggs are laid from May to August with a peak in June[18].

January: 264 recordsJanFebruary: 392 recordsFebMarch: 1,172 recordsMarApril: 2,288 recordsAprMay: 3,179 recordsMayJune: 2,998 recordsJunJuly: 2,009 recordsJulAugust: 1,730 recordsAugSeptember: 1,399 recordsSepOctober: 1,088 recordsOctNovember: 436 recordsNovDecember: 222 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
January264
February392
March1,172
April2,288
May3,179
June2,998
July2,009
August1,730
September1,399
October1,088
November436
December222

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Eastern Musk Turtle as present in 49 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 25 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina[23]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Eastern Musk Turtle endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Eastern Musk Turtle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 35 US states and territories, from Florida and Texas north to Maine and Minnesota[3].
What does the Eastern Musk Turtle eat?
It feeds mostly on the bottom of the water and eats mainly aquatic invertebrates, plus plants, carrion, fishes and amphibian larvae[16].
How big is the Eastern Musk Turtle?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 14 cm (6 in)[14].
How long does the Eastern Musk Turtle live?
AnAge lists a longest recorded lifespan in captivity[4]. That is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Eastern Musk 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 Eastern Musk Turtle: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Eastern Musk Turtle as native in 35 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 54.8 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a reptile in the family Kinosternidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Eastern Musk Turtle: Common Musk Turtle, Musk Turtle, Stinkpot. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  8. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on trend for Eastern Musk Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Eastern Musk Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Eastern Musk Turtle: Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Riparian, Medium river, Creek, Spring/spring brook, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Eastern Musk Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 14 cm (6 in). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Eastern Musk Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,277 days (about 3.5 years). AnAge
  18. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Eastern Musk Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe migration category for Eastern Musk Turtle: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on phenology for Eastern Musk Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Eastern Musk Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Eastern Musk Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  23. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Eastern Musk Turtle: Florida, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

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: Ontley, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.