SANTA FE RIVER TURTLE PROJECT
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Meet the Turtles

BASKING TURTLES
The following turtles spend large portions of their days basking on fallen trees, logs, or rocks. The benefits of basking include thermoregulation, removal of leeches, and absorption of ultraviolet radiation to facilitate bone growth. Because of this habit, these are the turtles most frequently observed by people who visit the river or springs.
Picture
 River Cooter
Pseudemys concinna

ID:
  • black v-shaped mark on front of plastron
  • adult males have long foreclaws used for courtship
  • carapace length*: female 16.1" (408mm); male 14.1" (359mm)
Habitat: river and springs
Diet: herbivore
Nesting season: April - August 
  • most abundant basking turtle
  • largest member of family Emydidae
  • nesting females dig 3 holes
  • threatened by illegal collection for food and collisions with boats
  • take or possession from the wild prohibited by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]
Picture
basking river cooter
Picture
measuring the plastron
Picture
female and male river cooter
Picture
plastron
Picture
Peninsular Cooter
Pseudemys floridana peninsularis

Florida Cooter
Pseudemys floridana floridana

ID:
  • yellow plastron with no markings
  • key distinguishing feature to identify peninsularis is hairpin shaped yellow markings on back of head
  • adult males have long foreclaws used for courtship
  • adult males have long foreclaws used for courtship
  • carapace length*: female 14.0" (356mm); male 11.3" (287mm)

​Habitat: river and springs
Diet: herbivore
Nesting season: September - June
  • threatened by illegal collection for food and collisions with boats
  • take or possession from the wild prohibited by Florida Fish and  Wildlife Conservation Commission [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]
Picture
Picture
Peninsular Cooter
Picture
Florida Red-bellied Turtle
Pseudemys nelsoni 
ID:
  • notch in upper jaw
  • red bar on each side of carapace
  • reddish-orange plastron
  • adult males have long foreclaws used for courtship
  • carapace length*: female 12.6" (319mm); male 11.2" (285mm)

Habitat: river and springs
Diet: herbivore
Nesting season: May - August
  • only lives in Florida and extreme southern Georgia
  • threatened by illegal collection for food and collisions with boats
  • take or possession from the wild prohibited by Florida Fish and  Wildlife Conservation Commission [Rule 68A-25.002(9)]
Picture
basking red-bellied slider
Picture
plastron
Picture
hatchling
Picture
Yellow-bellied Slider
Trachemys scripta scripta
ID:
  • yellow patch on each side of head
  • two dark spots on front of plaston
  • rough textured carapace
  • some males with black head
  • adult males have long foreclaws used for courtship
  • carapace length*: female 11.0" (279mm); male 9.3" (236mm)
Habitat: river and springs
Diet: omnivore
Nesting season: April - August
Picture
basking yellow-bellied slider
Picture
plastron
Picture
melanistic male

​* Carapace length listed is longest recorded in Santa Fe River

​© Copyright 2020 Santa Fe River Turtle Project©

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  • Home
  • MEET THE TURTLES
    • BASKING
    • Snapping Turtles
    • LITTLE BOTTOM WALKERS
    • ODDBALLS
    • NON-NATIVES
    • DEFINITIONS
  • RESEARCH
    • MEET THE RESEARCHERS
    • PUBLICATIONS
    • ORAL PRESENTATIONS
  • SANTA FE RIVER
  • THREATS
  • SLIDE SHOW
  • LINKS
  • CONTACT