Striped mud turtles inhabit calm freshwater habitats, such as swamps and canals with soft substrates. The eastern mud turtle is similar in appearance to the striped mud turtle, except it lacks any prominent striping on its head. The eastern mud turtle appears to have more general habitat requirements than the striped mud turtle, although the two species may occur in the same habitat. Female eastern mud turtles may nest two or three times a year during the spring and summer, often spending several days on land during each nesting event. Although hatchlings will emerge from their eggs in late summer, they remain buried underground until the following spring.
Most adults also bury themselves on land in the fall and return to a wetland in the spring.
The stinkpot is characterized by a longitudinally keeled carapace, reduced plastron with a single hinge, and a bold yellow head stripes. Compared to females, males have longer, thicker tails and larger areas of skin exposed between the plastral seams. This highly aquatic species is infrequently observed on land, but may bask high in trees overhanging the water. The stinkpot is very common throughout the Southeast, occurring in almost every type of aquatic habitat.