Overview
Get to Know Olive!
Olive is a common musk turtle, who is most known for the odor they produce from glands at the bases of their legs. Visually, this species is unique thanks to their very domed shell, their pointy noses and the whisker-like “barbels” found on the bottoms of their chins. These barbels help common musk turtles feel for food in dark, murky water, which is where they would typically be foraging.
Where to Find Me
Olive shares space with Pluff, the striped mud turtle, in a Cave habitat in the Maryland Wilderness. Although striped mud turtles are typically slightly smaller than common musk turtles, Pluff the mud turtle is larger than Olive the musk turtle.
Olive is typically swimming low in the water close to the display glass of her habitat. If not there, she may be tucked into the nooks and crannies of the logs and other structures within her habitat. Look low and look for a rock shape that is much larger and taller than the rocks in the habitat pool!
Special Care
Guests who look closely at Olive’s habitat may notice that there is a hidden door on the wall farthest from the display glass. This is the door that zookeepers open to take care of the turtles and the habitat space. Common musk turtles are typically considered very shy, but when the door is opened, Olive will swim towards the zookeepers at maximum speed in hopes of getting a meal!
Conservation Status
Least Concern
This status means that the population of common musk turtles living in their native habitat is doing well, but there are always opportunities to ensure this species can continue thriving.
How you can help
All animals thrive when their habitats are in excellent condition. When you respect and care for local habitats, you’re helping these animals thrive. Keep habitats clean of trash and chemicals, stick to designated nature paths, and encourage the growth of native plants on land in your care.
How the Zoo is helping
Many of the animals in the Maryland Zoo’s care that are native to Maryland are specifically native to Druid Hill Park, the park where the Zoo is located. The Maryland Zoo takes great care to ensure that zoo grounds benefit the wellbeing of all native animals found living within it. The Zoo prioritizes native plants, designs construction with wildlife safety in mind, and routinely surveys the grounds to check on the status of local populations.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Testudines
- Family: Kinosternidae
- Genus: Sternotherus
- Species: S. odoratus