The Cora mud turtle (''Kinosternon cora'') is a species of
mud turtle endemic to western
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
.
Description
The Cora mud turtle is a sister species of the
Vallarta mud turtle (''Kinosternon vogti''), with which it shares most morphological characteristics. It is distinguished from other ''Kinosternon'' species (except ''K. vogti'') in having a reduced and weakly movable
plastron, and a comparatively wider
carapace. The turtle differs from ''K. vogti'' mainly in being larger, darker in colour, and having shell scutes of different shapes and dimensions.
The Cora mud turtle is found in the Mexican states of
Nayarit
Nayarit (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit), is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its ...
and
Sinaloa.
It is named after the
Cora people, a
Native Mexican people who live in Nayarit.
References
Kinosternon
Turtles of North America
Endemic reptiles of Mexico
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