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search Sternotherus odoratus.jpg Common musk turtle Sternotherus
odoratus a species of the Kinosternidae family. Scientific
classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class:
Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily:
Kinosternoidea Family: Kinosternidae Agassiz, 1857[1]     •
Cinosternoidae - Agassiz 1857   • Kinosterna - Gray 1869   •
Kinosternidae - Hay 1892  The Kinosternidae are a family of
mostly small turtles that includes the mud turtles and musk
turtles. The family contains 25 species within four genera, but
taxonomic reclassification is an ongoing process, so many
sources vary on the exact numbers of species and subspecies.
They inhabit slow-moving bodies of water, often with soft, muddy
bottoms and abundant vegetation.   Most kinosternids are small
turtles, 10–15 cm (4–6 in) in carapace length. The highly domed
carapace has a distinct keel down its center. The genus
Staurotypus gets much larger, to 30 cm (12 in). F