The species Sternotherus odoratus was described by French Zoologist Pierre André Latreille in 1801. Common name for the Sternotherus odoratus is Common musk turtle, also known as Stinkpot turtle or even Stinking Jim.

The Sternotherus odoratus is a turtle who stays relatively small. It varies from 8 till 15cm. But most stay smaller then 13cm.They stay relatively smal in the South, and larger in the North of their distrubtion area (as mensioned by Edmonds & Brooks, 1996).

The Sternotherus odoratus has a small plastron with 11 scutes and has a gular scute, and a single hinge.
The plastrong varies in color from yellow till brown and has a grey-brown till black carapace, but mostly turns in to black when they are adult.

He has two light stripes on the side of his head, has barbels on chin and the throat.

The difference between adult males and females is remarkably. Females have a short, small tail and no rough hind limb scale patches.
Males have a big tail that end in a blunt terminal nail. They have two patches of scales on the inner surface of each leg.