Wednesday, 23 February 2000

White-lipped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Kinosternon ("moveable chest") leucostomum ("white mouth")

Adult JWhite-lipped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025


Featured Subspecies: Kinosternon leucostomum leucostomum
Weight: ?  /  Length: 16-17.5cm
NO UK STATUS IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A freshwater turtle of Central and Northern South America, they are an adaptable species that can be found in even brackish or polluted waters. In dryer climates they bury themselves during dry spells then emerge when water returns, but in more consistantly wet climates they stay active throughout the year. They are omniovorous and will feed on more or less anything from algae to carrion to seed to small vertebrates.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Testudines
Family: Kinosternidae 
Genus: Kinosternon 
SUBSPECIES: K. l. leucostomum, K. l. postinguinale
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: One seen in Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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