Pseudemys floridana
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| Pseudemys floridana (Stejneger, 1925) |
The Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis) is a species of the genus Pseudemys. In scientific articles it is sometimes referred to as Pseudemys floridana.
The species ranges from Virginia down through Florida and westward along the panhandle of the state. In the panhandle of Florida the turtle is recognized as a subspecies, the Florida Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys floridana peninsularis).
The Peninsula cooter is mainly herbivorous and inhabits slow-flowing streams and still bodies of water with soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation. It reaches particularly high densities in spring runs. This species is active year-round and spends a large portion of the day basking on logs.
The Peninsula cooter is closely related to the Florida Redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni) and can often be found basking together on logs. The Peninsula cooter can be distinguished from the Florida redbelly by its distinctive yellow-tinged plastron (belly) and smooth upper beak. The Florida redbelly has a red-tinged plastron and two cusps on its upper beak.
Peninsula cooters are frequently exported for consumption and the pet trade, with about 60% wild caught individuals and 40% captive bred.
References:
Ernst, C.H., R.W. Barbour and J.E. Lovich. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution Press.
Hubbs, C. 1995. Springs and spring runs as unique aquatic systems. Copeia. 1995(4): 989-991.
Reed, R.N. and J.W. Gibbons. 2004. Conservation status of live U.S. nonmarine turtles in domestic and international trade – a report to: U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Aiken, SC, Savannah River Ecology Lab: 1-92.
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