Size:  From 3 to 4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) in length.
Description:  Mud turtles are easily distinguishable from sinilar musk turtles by looking at the underside of the shell (plastron). Mud turtles have a large plastron with two moveable hinges while musk turtles have small plastrons with a single hing that provides little to no protection for their legs.  This turtle can be distinguished from the eastern mud turtle by the two light stripes on its head. In Florida this species has three light stripes on the shell. Until the 1980's mud turtles north of Florida were all thought to be Eastern Mud Turtles. Since then, this species has been verified as far north as Virginia.  Male turtles can be distinguished from females by their thick tail .
Habitat:  Striped Mud Turtles are found in a variety of water bodies from canals, to pond, lakes, cypress swamps, and temporary pools. They are generally not found in swift moving water.
Range:  Striped Mud Turtles can be found from Florida to Virginia, along the coastal plane. 

mud turtle plastron	Range of the Striped Mud Turtle in the Carolinas and Virginia	head stripes of a striped mud turtle