Phylogenetic Relationships among Musk Turtles (Genus Sternotherus) and Genic Variation in Sternotherus odoratus

An electrophoretic comparison of 15 proteins is used to evaluate genetic relationships of turtles in the genus Sternotherus. Samples of S. odoratus were highly heterozygous, but relatively little heterogeneity was seen among populations. Results confirm the previously reported affinity between S. minor and S. depressus. The genetic position of S. carinatus does not agree with ecological and morphological data placing it in a species complex with S. minor and S. depressus. Based on shared alleles and genetic distances, it appears that S. odoratus and S. carinatus are closer phylogenetically than either is to S. depressus or to S. minor.