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Peninsula Cooter (Yellow neck)
Pseudemys floridana peninsularis
{Species
Archive Index}
 
photos ©Lee County DOE; Pam Gross,UF
Identifiers- Back brown with faint yellow stripes, dark
circles on the underside of shell, yellow stripes on head, Length 15"
Adaptations-
slightly raised carapace, male turtle has long claws to assist with mating,
partially webbed feet
Status-
common
Distribution- 2 subspecies found in Florida;
Penninsula cooter (found throughout the state) , Florida cooter (P. f.
floridana, found in north Florida, has straight head stripes).
Habitat-
ponds, lakes, canals, sluggish rivers
Reproduction- 4-22 eggs laid in nest cavities
Diet- aquatic vegetation, juveniles eat insects
Fun facts
- bask in groups often with Florida Red-bellied turtles
- neck, shell and leg markings vary between subspecies
- differences in geographical distribution along with head and leg markings
are the best identifiers
- Suwanee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis, found in river
basins from Gulf to Hillsborough county)
- similiar species include the Chicken turtle and Yellow-bellied pond slider
{Species
Archive Index} |
