Suwannee cooter

The Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) is a species of turtle in the genus Pseudemys. The species is endemic to Florida, including in the Suwannee River.[1]

Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis
Suwannee cooters
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Pseudemys
Species:	P. concinna
Subspecies:	P. c. suwanniensis
Trinomial name
Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Carr, 1937

Conservation status

P. c. suwanniensis was hunted for its meat, but is now protected.[2]

Appearance

The carapace of P. c. suwanniensisis black in color, with yellow markings. The plastron is light orange or yellow with black markings. Adults can reach 17 inches (43.7 centimeters) in carapace length.

Diet

The diet of P. c. suwanniensis mainly consists of aquatic plants.[2]

References

1. Ernst, C.H.; Lovich, J.E. (2009). Turtles of the United States and Canada. Second edition. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
2. Suwannee cooter Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Further reading

• Carr AF Jr. 1937. "A New Turtle from Florida, with Notes on Pseudemys floridana mobiliensis (Holbrook)". Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan (348): 1-7. (Pseudemys floridana suwanniensis, new subspecies, pp. 4–6).