Sternotherus depressus
flattened musk turtle

These turtles are currently only found in the Black Warrior River watershed above the Bankhead Dam, in Alabama. The ten Alabama counties included in this range are Blount, Cullman, Etawah, Fayette, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marshall, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Winston.

This turtle is mostly found in clear, shallow streams above the fall line. Rocky to sandy-bottomed streams are preferred (Ernst, Lovich, and Barbour 1994).

Sternotherus depressus ranges from about 3 to 4 inches (7.5 - 10 cm) in carapace length; record in 4.6 in (11.7 cm). When compared with other musk turtles, Sternotherus depressus has a carapace that is quite flattened. The top of the carapace is brown and the small plastron is either pinkish or yellowish-brown. The head and neck are greenish with a network of dark lines around them, and there are barbels located on the chin (Conant and Collins 1998).

Sternotherus depressus is inactive during the winter months, but its hibernation habits are unknown. Juvenilles are more active during the day then adults are. Adults are most often seen active during the night during the summer season. It is thought that there is some correlation between the amount of darkness and the size of the active musk turtle. It is common to see juveniles foraging in the early evening, but as darkness sets in, foraging activity is seen mostly in young adults, and it is not until the dead of night that the very large adults emerge for feeding. Early in the season when temperatures are cool, S. depressus is normally diurnal. As the temperature gets progressively warmer however, the dirunal activity becomes less obvious and nocturnal behavior becomes dominant. (Ernst,Lovich,and Barbour, 1994)

The flattened musk turtle feeds underwater on invertebrates such as snails and mussels. Large adult musk turtles have expanded jaws for crushing mollusks.

This turtle is of no concern to fish management and is harmless to human interests.

The presence of this species is a good indication of the condition of the streams, as it requires clear, relatively unpolluted habitat.

Unfortunately, the Flattened Musk Turtle has had value in the pet trade, and has been heavily exploited for that reason in some parts of its small range..

These animals are sensitive to changes in streambed habitats, and especially to water quality. These musk turtles can only survive in pure waters. Sharp declines in recent decades have occurred due in part to an increase in pollution levels in their aquatic habitat. This is mainly due to coal strip mining. These turtles have also been collected in large numbers for the commercial pet trade. In February of 1986, at a Birmingham public hearing about the Fisheries and Wildlife Service's proposal to list the flattened musk turtle as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, representatives of the coal industry claimed that listing the turtle as 'threatened" could mean an end to coal mining in the area. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service testified that coal mining would not be affected if the State and Federal strip-mining laws were obeyed. Strip miners are required to control discharges, and mining is barred within a certain distance of rivers. It is the lack of attention to these rules that has destroyed the flattened musk turtle's habitat as well as the valuable drinking water. Protecting the turtle would therefore also protect the quality of water for the citizens of Birmingham and northern Alabama. In June 1986 the proposal to list the Flattened Musk Turtle as threatened was accepted and became law. (Environmental Defense Fund, 1986)