Razor-backed Musk Turtle

The razor-backed musk turtle grows to a straight carapace length of about 15 cm (5.9 in). It has a brown-colored carapace, with black markings at the edges of each scute. The carapace has a distinct, sharp keel down the center of its length, giving the species its common name. The body is typically grey-brown in color, with black spotting, as is the head, which tends to have a bulbous shape to it. It has a long neck, short legs, and a sharp beak. Males can usually be distinguished from females by their longer tails. The plastron is small, with only one hinge which is located anteriorly. There is no gular scute. Barbels are present on the chin only. As the name suggests, they do have a smell. They use this as a defense mechanism, produced through the musk glands. However, the razor-backed musk turtle is known to not produce as much of a smell, especially the captive turtles.

S. carinatus is found in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. However, it is only found in certain parts of those states except Louisiana. It is found in southeastern Oklahoma, southern and eastern Texas, southern Arkansas, south-central Mississippi, and extreme southwestern Alabama.

S. carinatus is almost entirely aquatic, spending most of its time in shallow, heavily vegetated, slow-moving creeks, ponds, streams, and swamps. The only time it typically ventures onto land is when the female lays eggs. However, both sexes bask often. This species is mainly aquatic, but the turtles often like to take advantage of emergent deadwood to bask and has been observed to occasionally climb trees above the water and drop back into the water when threatened. This species enjoys basking more than other species in the same family. This helps the turtles stay in safe areas away from other turtles, lowering competition.