Description: The Coastal Plain cooter is a large aquatic turtle reaching a maximum carapace length of 15.6 inches. The shell is highly elevated, with the highest point in the middle. The carapace (upper shell) is usually light to dark brown, with complex, light-colored concentric markings. The plastron (lower shell) is light yellow with no greenish tint, and there is usually no dark plastral pattern. The arms and legs are dark brown with yellow stripes. Juveniles have not been collected in Virginia. This species may be easily confused with the red-bellied turtle, Pseudemys rubriventris, which has reddish vertical stripes on the carapace, a reddish plastron, and a prominent cusp on each side of the notched upper jaw.
Habitat: The cooter is mainly herbivorous and inhabits lakes, sloughs, ponds, slow-flowing streams, and other still bodies of water with soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation. However, it can be found in high densities in some Florida spring runs, usually in heavily vegetated areas with little flow. This species is active year-round and spends a large portion of the day basking on logs.
Range: The species is found within the southeastern coastal plain of the United States, from extreme southeastern Virginia southward through all of Florida and westward to the vicinity of Mobile Bay, Alabama. The nominate race (P. floridana) occupies most of the species' geographic range but is replaced in the Florida peninsula by the Peninsular Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis), which is primarily distinguished by differences in head markings.
Diet: Adults eat mainly aquatic plants; young take animal food, become less animalivorous with age.
Reproduction: Lays clutch(es) of 12 to 29 eggs, generally May to July but year round in Florida. May be additional nests containing 1 to 3 eggs next to main nest. Eggs hatch in 80 to 150 days. Hatchlings may commonly overwinter in nest.
Status: The IUCN Red List, Pseudemys concinna is considered a species of Least Concern. Similarly, they are not considered an endangered species according to the United States Endangered Species Act (US ESA). Threats to the wild population of this turtle include habitat alterations by humans, road-mortalities, illegal hunting, and pollution of the turtle’s natural habitat.
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Disclaimer: ITIS taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up-to-date information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the United States is a party, wildlife statutes, regulations, and any applicable notices that have been published in the Federal Register. For further information on U.S. legal requirements with respect to protected taxa, please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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