River cooter
Name
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==Geographic range== |
==Geographic range== |
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''Pseudemys concinna'' is found from [[Virginia]] south to central [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], west to eastern [[Texas]], [[Oklahoma]], and north to southern [[Indiana]]. There are also isolated populations found in West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and north-central Tennessee.{{Cite journal |last=Kumar |first=P |last2=Schauber |first2=E |last3=Dreslik |first3=M |date=2023 |title=CONSERVATION GUIDANCE FOR: |
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EASTERN RIVER COOTER |
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Pseudemys concinna concinna (LeConte, 1830) |url=https://naturalheritage.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/naturalheritage/speciesconservation/speciesguidance/documents/species-guidance-documents/eastern-river-cooter-sgd.pdf |journal=Natural Resources Division of Natural Heritage Illinois Natural History Survey.}} |
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==Habitat== |
==Habitat== |
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''Pseudemys concinna'' is usually found in rivers with moderate [[Current (stream)| |
''Pseudemys concinna'' is usually found in shallow rivers with moderate to slow [[Current (stream)|currents]], as well as lakes, [[tidal marsh]]es and riverine floodplains with heavy vegetation and abundant basking surfaces.{{cite web | url=http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0141 | title=River Cooter | publisher=eNature | access-date=2008-10-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905203546/http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0141 | archive-date=2009-09-05 }}>> |
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==Subspecies== |
==Subspecies== |
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==Name== |
==Name== |
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The genus ''[[Pseudemys]]'' includes several species of cooters and red-bellied turtles. ''Pseudemys concinna'' is the species known as the river cooter. The name "cooter" may have come from an African word "kuta" which means "turtle" in the [[Bambara language|Bambara]] and [[Malinké]] languages, brought to America by [[History of slavery in the United States|African slaves]].{{cite web | url=http://mw4.m-w.com/dictionary/cooters | title=Cooters | publisher=Merriam-Webster | access-date=2010-08-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714011839/http://mw4.m-w.com/dictionary/cooters | archive-date=2011-07-14 }} |
The genus ''[[Pseudemys]]'' includes several species of cooters and red-bellied turtles. ''Pseudemys concinna'' is the species known as the river cooter. The name "cooter" may have come from an African word "kuta" which means "turtle" in the [[Bambara language|Bambara]] and [[Malinké]] languages, brought to America by [[History of slavery in the United States|African slaves]].{{cite web | url=http://mw4.m-w.com/dictionary/cooters | title=Cooters | publisher=Merriam-Webster | access-date=2010-08-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714011839/http://mw4.m-w.com/dictionary/cooters | archive-date=2011-07-14 }} |
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== Morphology == |
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River cooters are large, freshwater turtles, with carapace lengths upwards of 200 millimeters. These turtles are known for the ornate patterns of yellow to white swirls on their carapace. These patterns can be used to identify the different subspecies but will disappear with age as both sexes tend to face melanism and begin to lose their patterns as their shells get darker. |
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==Behavior== |
==Behavior== |
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The mating habits of the river cooter are very similar to those of the [[red-eared slider]]. As with the other basking turtles, the males tend to be smaller than females. The male uses his long claws to flutter at the face of the much larger female. Often, the female ignores him. After detecting what may be a [[pheromone]] signal while sniffing at a female's tail, a male river cooter will court a female by swimming above her, vibrating his long nails and stroking her face. Females have also been observed doing this to initiate courtship. If the female is receptive, she will sink to the bottom of the river and allow the male to mount for mating. If she does mate, after several weeks the female crawls upon land to seek a nesting site. Females often cross highways looking for suitable nesting spots. Females will lay between 12 and 20 eggs at a time, close to water. The eggs hatch within 45 to 56 days and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through their first winter. |
The mating habits of the river cooter are very similar to those of the [[red-eared slider]]. As with the other basking turtles, the males tend to be smaller than females. The male uses his long claws to flutter at the face of the much larger female. Often, the female ignores him. After detecting what may be a [[pheromone]] signal while sniffing at a female's tail, a male river cooter will court a female by swimming above her, vibrating his long nails and stroking her face. Females have also been observed doing this to initiate courtship. If the female is receptive, she will sink to the bottom of the river and allow the male to mount for mating. If she does mate, after several weeks the female crawls upon land to seek a nesting site. Females often cross highways looking for suitable nesting spots. Females will lay between 12 and 20 eggs at a time, close to water. The eggs hatch within 45 to 56 days and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through their first winter. |
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Mating takes place in early spring. Nesting usually occurs from May to June. The female chooses a site with sandy or loamy soil, within {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} of the river's edge. She looks for an open area, with no major obstacles for the future hatchings to negotiate on their way to the river. The nest is dug with the hind feet. She lays 10–25 or more eggs in one or more clutches. Eggs are ellipsoidal, approximately {{convert|1.5|in|cm|0}} long. Incubation time is determined by temperature, but averages 90–100 days. Hatchlings generally emerge in August or September. There have been reported instances of late clutches over-wintering and hatching in the spring. A hatchling will have a round carapace, about {{convert|1.5|in|cm|0}} diameter, that is green with bright yellow markings. |
Mating takes place in early spring. Nesting usually occurs from May to June. The female chooses a site with sandy or loamy soil, within {{convert|100|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} of the river's edge. She looks for an open area, with no major obstacles for the future hatchings to negotiate on their way to the river. The nest is dug with the hind feet. She lays 10–25 or more eggs in one or more clutches. Eggs are ellipsoidal, approximately {{convert|1.5|in|cm|0}} long. Incubation time is determined by temperature, but averages 90–100 days. Hatchlings generally emerge in August or September. There have been reported instances of late clutches over-wintering and hatching in the spring. This relationship has been shown where nests that are further away from the river tend to over-winter before hatching while nests closer to the river tend to hatch in the fall. A hatchling will have a round carapace, about {{convert|1.5|in|cm|0}} diameter, that is green with bright yellow markings. |
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== Predators == |
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==In the wild== |
==In the wild== |
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