Mud turtles inhabit the slow moving waters of the temperate zone of the United States, Africa, and other countries. They thrive in shallow waters with sandy or muddy bottoms, which contain worms, slugs, snails, crayfish, small fish, tadpoles, crabs and other small water and land animals and insects. Being omnivores they are not limited to live meat and will eat berries, fruit, algae and even carrion if no other food is available. This adaptability in diet is most likely a major contributor to their existence, stretching back five million years. In order for mud turtles to last the next five million years, man must do his part to stop the three largest contributors to death in the mud turtle community. These are loss of habitat due to human expansion, death on roads (crushed by vehicles) during migration, and pesticides that taint their food supply. The problem of global warming brought on in part by man, also affects the mud turtles male/female ratio since sex is determined during incubation.Mud turtles are often confused with other species of turtles, but they are generally dark in color, brownish to dark olive and their backs are smooth with no keel or lengthwise ridge. They mate in water during a mating season from March to May and lay eggs on land that hatch from August to September. The hatchlings will sometimes move to the water soon after hatching; however, sometimes they will burrow deeper and remain under the nest hibernating until the following spring. During their time of growth, hatchlings are nearly completely carnivorous to aid in their development. However, as they mature, their feeding habits will change to nearly all plant and decaying matter.
Mud turtles will spend most of their time basking in the sunshine or foraging for food either in or near the water. If their habitat dries up they will search for a new location and will often move at dusk, late at night, early morning, or often after rain showers. They prefer to be close to water as a means of escape from their nocturnal predators such as opossums, foxes, weasels, and during the day by aquatic birds (especially when they are young).
For millions of years mud turtles have shared the planet with many species including our ancestors, and it is our legacy to see they continue to survive and thrive during the years to come.