Morphology, Diet, and Population Structure of the Southern White-lipped Mud TurtleKinosternon leucostomum postinguinale(Testudines: Kinosternidae) in the Nus River Drainage, Colombia

Abstract

Abstract Most existing studies on the White-lipped Mud Turtle, Kinosternon leucostomum, have been based on northern Central American populations, leaving a lack of information on populations from southern Central America and South America. Herein we studied morphology, diet, and population structure of a population of the southern Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale inhabiting four creeks in Colombia. Observed habitats used were highly variable, ranging from relatively clean waters to streams used for sewage disposal of wastewater from a human settlement. Body size was smaller than that of other populations of southern K. l. postinguinale and also than that of the northern K. l. leucostomum. Sexual dimorphism was evident, with males heavier, longer, and wider than females. Body size was associated with the habitat of origin, with Barrio Nuevo individuals being the largest. The main components of the diet were plant material, insects, snails, and algae. We did not find evidence of sexual differences in t...