Florida Red-Bellied Cooter
Pseudemys nelsoni
The Florida Red-Bellied Cooter is a large native freshwater turtle with yellow head stripes and reddish markings on its shell and lower surface.
Florida Red-Bellied Cooters live in lakes, ponds, canals, marshes, and spring runs. They spend long periods basking on logs and banks before sliding quickly into the water.
Adults feed mostly on aquatic plants and algae. Females travel onto land to nest, sometimes using the raised vegetation mounds built by American Alligators.
Habitat:
Lakes and Ponds, Rivers and Springs, Canals and Ditches, Freshwater Wetlands
Area / Range:
North Florida, Central Florida, South Florida
Diet:
Adults eat aquatic vegetation, algae, and fallen plant material. Juveniles take more insects, snails, and other small aquatic animals.
Behavior:
They bask during the day, forage underwater, and retreat rapidly when approached. Nesting females may cross roads or lawns in spring and summer.
Day
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Sunny mornings and afternoons on logs, rocks, and banks around ponds, canals, and spring runs.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Considered Least Concern, although road deaths, wetland alteration, and wild collection remain local pressures.
Safety Level:
Low Risk
Safety Information:
Give the turtle space and avoid handling. Any turtle can scratch, bite, and carry Salmonella.
Benefits to Property:
It grazes algae and aquatic plants, recycles nutrients, and supports the food web of ponds and wetlands.
Property Concerns:
Nesting females may dig a temporary nest in sunny soil or turf. Do not disturb the nest or relocate the turtle away from its home waterbody.
Fun Fact:
Florida Red-Bellied Cooters sometimes place eggs in alligator nest mounds, where elevated soil and warmth support incubation.
Wildlife Laws:
Florida restricts take of wild freshwater turtles and their eggs. Wild harvest requires appropriate authorization. Follow current FWC rules and never remove a turtle from a protected area.
Identification:
Look for a high-domed dark shell with red or orange bars, a reddish plastron, yellow head stripes, and two tooth-like cusps on the upper jaw. Females grow noticeably larger than males.
Credits:
Facts: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Images: primary and secondary.