Peninsular Cooter

Pseudemys peninsularis

Unlike many other turtles, Peninsular Cooters can sleep underwater, wedging themselves under logs or rocks to stay submerged and safe from predators.

Scientific name

Pseudemys peninsularis

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Reptilia › Testudines › Emydidae › Pseudemys

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Slow-moving freshwater rivers, spring runs, ponds, lakes, and marshes with abundant aquatic vegetation and basking sites.

Diet

Primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae, duckweed, eelgrass, and other aquatic plants; juveniles may occasionally consume small insects or snails.

Range

Florida peninsula (United States)

Size

Carapace length of 9 to 13 inches (23 to 33 cm), with females being significantly larger than males.

Lifespan

30 to 40 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Habitat degradation, water pollution, road mortality during nesting migrations, and illegal collection for the pet trade.

Safe to approach?

Harmless and shy. If spotted basking, observe quietly from a distance of at least 15 feet to avoid startling them back into the water. Do not attempt to handle them, as they may scratch or deliver a painful bite in self-defense. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water to prevent infection, and seek medical advice if signs of infection develop.

The peninsula cooter ( Pseudemys peninsularis ) is a species of freshwater turtle in the genus Pseudemys . It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the coastal plain cooter ( P. floridana ) when that turtle is not itself considered a subspecies of the river cooter ( P. concinna ).

Photo: José Garrido, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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