Coastal Plain Cooter

Pseudemys floridana

The Coastal Plain Cooter is a friendly turtle that loves to swim in warm waters. They have beautiful shells and can often be seen basking in the sun on logs or rocks.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Coastal Plain Cooter has an olive-brown to black shell with intricate yellow or orange markings. Its skin is dark with thin yellow stripes, and a distinctive 'C'-shaped mark is often seen on the second scute of its plastron.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyEmydidaeGenusPseudemys

Coastal Plain Cooter

Interesting facts

Baby cooters are tiny, about the size of a quarter, when they first hatch from their eggs!

Their shells have special growth rings, like tree rings, that show how old they are!

They are called 'cooters' from the African word 'kuta,' meaning turtle.

When scared, young cooters hide by quickly diving underwater and burying themselves in mud.

Special abilities

Coastal Plain Cooter can warm its body because it basks in the sun, which helps it digest food and stay active.

Coastal Plain Cooter has excellent underwater vision that helps it spot plants and predators while submerged in murky water.

Coastal Plain Cooter can chew tough plants because it has strong, ridged jaws, helping it grind up fibrous vegetation.

Coastal Plain Cooter has a hard, domed shell that helps protect it from many predators, keeping it safe from danger.

Measurements & details

Length: 25-43 cm
Weight: 2.5-6 kg
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Top Speed: 10 km/h
Swim Speed: 10 km/h
Clutch Size: 10-25
Incubation: 70-100 days
Maximum Depth: 3 m

Diet & Feeding

Mainly eats various aquatic plants, making it an important herbivore in its watery home.

Age differences: Young cooters are more omnivorous, eating insects and small invertebrates, gradually shifting to an almost entirely plant-based diet as they mature.

Primary Foods

Aquatic plants
Algae
Duckweed
Fallen fruits
Aquatic insects (juveniles)

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Eggs and young turtles are prey for large alligators.

eats

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Juveniles may opportunistically eat these common crustaceans.

eats

Hydrilla

Hydrilla verticillata

A primary aquatic plant food source for adult cooters.

eats

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Fallen fruits or leaves from trees near water provide food.

eaten by

Great Egret

Ardea alba

Hatchlings and juveniles can be prey for wading birds.

Traits

Webbed Feet

Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Longevous

This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.