note: the image on the 3rd slide did not upload correctly to slideshare and the arrows are not pointing to the correct locations. ABSTRACT: Prey organisms have evolved a variety of defense mechanisms that lessen the risk of being detected, attacked, or killed by a predator. Antipredator chemical defenses are utilized by a wide variety of taxa, most notably plants, insects, and amphibians. The odorous secretions from the common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) have a presumed antipredator function, but experimental studies testing this hypothesis are lacking. This study tested the feeding deterrent effects of musk gland secretions from juvenile common musk turtles on a natural predator, the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous). Neonate cottonmouths were presented with feeder minnows which either had distilled water or turtle musk applied to them. Variables measured included latency to feed and time of consumption. The latency to feed times for cottonmouths presented with distilled water minnows were not significantly different from those of cottonmouths presented with turtle musk minnows. The prey consumption times for cottonmouths feeding on turtle musk minnows were significantly greater than those of cottonmouths feeding on distilled water minnows. These results suggest that the musk secretions may lengthen the time of a predation sequence, allowing the turtle more time for a possible escape from the predator.