BASKING

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.

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)]

basking river cooter

measuring the plastron

female and male river cooter

plastron

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)]

Peninsular Cooter

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)]

basking red-bellied slider

plastron

hatchling

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

basking yellow-bellied slider

plastron

melanistic male