This lifeform is found east of the Continental Divide in North America. This lifeform is found in freshwater such as lakes or rivers. This lifeform is locally common in suitable environments.

Common musk turtle or stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) is native to the eastern United States. This species can be found from New England west to southern Wisconsin and all of Illinois, and south from New England to most of the Florida mainland and west to eastern Texas.  This turtle has a preference for clear water and walks around on the bottom searching for food. The two yellow lines on the head (one above and one under the eye) help identify this species. In northern Illinois this turtle rarely suns itself, but warms itself by floating underneath lily pads. Once common in northern Illinois, carp have stirred up and destroyed many of its former habitats.

Mud and Musk Turtle Group (Family Kinosternidae) is closely related to the snapping turtle group. it is found from Canada south to Ecuador. They usually have very reduced lower shells  (plastrons). These turtles are frequently called "stinkpots".  They normallly crawl around on the botton of lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Kinosternidae Family in North America contains the following eight species:

     SCIENTIFIC NAME            GENERAL RANGE  
       (Common Name)

     Sternotherus odoratus      East United States
        (Stinkpot)
     Sternotherus carinatus     Louisiana and adjacent territory
        (Razor Back Musk)
     Sternotherus minor         Alabama and northern Fla
        (Loggerhead Musk)
     Kinosternum subrubrum      Eastern Texas, southeast
        (Mud Turtle)            United States
     Kinosternum baurii         Florida
        (Striped Mud)
     Kinosternum flavescens     Texas to Nebraska
        (Yellow Mud)
     Kinosternum sonoriense     Southern New Mexico and        southern  
        (Sonora Mud)            Arizona
     Kinosternum hirtipes       Big Bend, Texas
        (Rough Footed Mud)

Turtle and Tortoise group (Order Chelonia) are among the most  primitive reptiles. They are egg-laying creatures characterized  by having four legs, a tail, and two shells each made up of many scales that are joined together. There are about two hundred and fifty species of turtles in the world. Carl  Ernst and Roger Barbour published a book entitled "Turtles of the World" by the Smithsonian Press in l989. This work covers all of the known species. The authors note that there are two hundred and fifty-seven species of living turtles. Many of these species are pictured and discussed here.

The following overview of the various families included in the Turtle Order is based on the aforementioned publication:

       SCIENTIFIC NAME     COMMON NAME         NUMBER OF SPECIES
       Pelomedusidae       Side Necked        23  species
       Chelidae            Side Necked        36  species
       Kinosternidae       Mud and Musk       22  species
       Dermatemydidae      River Turtle        1  species
       Carettochelyidae    Pig Nose            1  species
       Trionychidae        Soft Shelled       22  species
       Dermochelyidae      Leatherback         1  species
       Cheloniidae         Sea Turtles         6  species
       Chelydridae         Snapping turtles    2  species
       Platysternidae      Big Headed          1
       Emydidae            Pond and Box       91  species
       Testudinidae        Tortoises          50  species
                                       256 total species

While the above counts are currently reliable, they will be impacted by findings as research continues. For example, the exact count of the species of tortoises in the Galapagos and placement of the Florida Snapping Turtle might change these counts.

Reptiles (Class Reptilia) are an ancient group of scaled  chordates. These scales may be permanently joined, as in the  turtles, or flexible, as in the snakes. Reptiles are land-based. Their eggs are laid on land and the young are air breathing.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.