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Eastern River Cooter

eastern river cooter

The Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) is a relatively large basking turtle that inhabits slow moving rivers and strams (rather than ponds).

It's the widest ranging of the Pseudemys species, with five subspecies found in the Southeast from Virginia south to Florida, and in the central United States from Nebraska, south to eastern Texas. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee also host small populations.

The picture shows the brightly lined face and a little of the brown and yellow patterened carapace. Shell color varies, depending on region.

© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels