---
title: "Eastern Musk Turtle"
description: "Sternotherus odoratus — Reptiles. Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family Kinosternidae."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/eastern-musk-turtle
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Eastern Musk Turtle

> Sternotherus odoratus — Reptiles. Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family Kinosternidae.

- Scientific name: *Sternotherus odoratus*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 15232
- Wikidata: [Q674891](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q674891)
- iNaturalist taxon: [39703](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39703)

## Names

- en: Eastern Musk Turtle
- de: Gewöhnliche Moschusschildkröte
- fr: Tortue musquée
- nl: Muskusschildpad
- pl: Żółw wonny

## Countries with the most observations

US (12779), CA (1611), IT (4)

## Summary

Sternotherus odoratus is a species of small turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to southeastern Canada and much of the Eastern United States. It is also known commonly as the common musk turtle, eastern musk turtle, or stinkpot turtle due to its ability to release a foul musky odor from scent glands on the edge of its shell, possibly to deter predation. This turtle is grouped in the same family as mud turtles.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sternotherus_odoratus

## Photo

![Eastern Musk Turtle](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/eastern-musk-turtle/medium.jpg)

Photo: Kevin Barnes · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94521083

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/eastern-musk-turtle?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).