The Sonoran mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense) is the only native turtle found in Montezuma Well, a unique desert oasis in central Arizona. Researchers are studying how this freshwater species accumulates and processes the naturally occurring arsenic in the Well’s waters, providing valuable insights into turtle ecology and conservation.

Sonoran mud turtles inhabit rocky streams, creeks, rivers, and springs, ranging from southeastern Arizona into Sonora, Mexico. Omnivorous, they feed on aquatic insects, snails, and small frogs. Their activity patterns change with the seasons: they are mostly active during the day in the spring and fall, and at night during the hot summer months.

Today, the Sonoran mud turtles of Montezuma Well face new pressures from invasive Red-eared sliders, (Trachemys scripta elegans) a species native to the southeastern U.S. Introduced to Montezuma Well in the late 1960s and early 70s, Red-eared sliders compete with the native mud turtles for basking sites, food, and other critical resources, contributing to a noticeable decline in the mud turtle population.