Talk:Sternotherus odoratus

A fact from Sternotherus odoratus appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 16 June 2006. The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the Stinkpot turtle (pictured) deters predators by releasing a musky smell from glands under its shell?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2006/June.

Wikipedia

++Lar: t/c 01:22, 16 June 2006 (UTC) [reply]

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New title?

Should the article be moved to Common Musk or Turtle or Stinkpot since it isn't the animal known only by its Latin name? --Brand спойт 14:47, 16 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Common Musk Turtle would probably the most appropriate, but, technically the most common term used for them would just be "Musk Turtle", as no one refers to them as "common" in every day language, but that is entirely vague as there are several species just called "musk turtle". It is also known by at least a half dozen different other common names depending on where you go, and who you ask, which is kind of misleading. Stinkpot used to be more common about 30 years ago, but I rarely hear it used anymore. Hence my choice for the scientific name, though I have no real complaint with it being moved if someone thinks something else is more logical. -Dawson 15:28, 16 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Definitely not just "Musk Turtle". There are numerous species in the genus and they are all called musk turtles so it would be confusing. Additionally all modern texts refer to them as "Common Musk Turtles" or "Stinkpots" (e.g. Conant and Collins 1998 field guide to reptiles and amphibians of Eastern/central NA, Ernst and Lovich 2009 turtles of the united states and canada, and Ernst and Barbour 1998 turtles of the world). I prefer stinkpot because it is a much more charismatic name and is also the one most often used amongst researchers, government and conservation organizations, and the public here in canada Matt Keevil (talk) 17:04, 12 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

The last two sentences in the section "Reproduction" make no sense! If the males and females reproduce in different water temperatures, how do they reproduce with each other? Either this phenomenon needs to be explained, or these sentences need to be deleted from the article. As to the new title, Stinkpot gets my vote; that's the name commonly used for them here in Western PA. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.109.236.194 (talk) 13:45, 11 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]