Stats

Lifespan

20-40 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Herbivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Armor

Status

Uncommon

About

The river cooter is a large basking turtle of slow-moving rivers and streams across the eastern and central United States, named for a Gullah word for turtle. Its dark, ridged shell shows faint yellow "C"-shaped markings on the second scute, visible only up close.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A coin-sized hatchling digs out of the nest and makes its own way to water or shelter.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile turtle's shell hardens and grows yearly rings as it forages on its own.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown with adult shell size and markings.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Testudines

Family

Emydidae

Genus

Pseudemys

Species

Pseudemys concinna