loggerhead musk turtle
loggerhead musk turtle Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A small species of aquatic turtle (Sternotherus minor) native to the southeastern United States, characterized by an exceptionally large head in adults and the ability to release a foul-smelling musk when threatened.
"During our kayak trip down the Florida spring, we spotted a loggerhead musk turtle basking briefly on a submerged log before it slipped back into the water."
Word Nuance & Usage
Care must be taken not to confuse the loggerhead musk turtle, a small freshwater species, with the loggerhead sea turtle, which is a massive, strictly marine reptile.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name derives from the exceptionally large head characteristic of older adults ('loggerhead') and their defense mechanism of releasing a foul-smelling secretion ('musk') from glands under the edge of their shell.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.