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Definition of musk turtle

musk turtle

Plural:musk turtles
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musk turtle Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A small, highly aquatic freshwater turtle belonging to the family Kinosternidae, native to North and Central America, characterized by a domed shell and the defensive ability to release a foul-smelling fluid from specialized glands.

Example

"While surveying the shallow wetlands, the herpetologist documented a common musk turtle resting among the aquatic vegetation."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for musk turtle

• Nearby Words

mushroom
musi
musk
musk turtle
muskellunge
musket
muskmelon

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for the distinct, strong-smelling, musky fluid they secrete from glands near the edge of their shell as a defense mechanism when threatened or disturbed.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Musk turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/musk turtle
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