Water Turtles

The Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), pictured above, a medium sized basking turtle of the Great Lakes region, continues to experience population declines throughout its range.

The Western Pond Turtle (Clemmys marmorata), a western species, is listed as endangered in Washington State, with habitat loss cited as a causal factor.

Most people associate sliders with the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). However, three native Trachemys species inhabit North American ponds.

Red-eared Slider early popularity in the pet trade resulted in many individuals being introduced into local fresh water ponds and lakes.

They can grow up to a foot long and subsist on a diet of local animal and plant life. Their presence in any location causes potential competition with local native turtle species.

The yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta), inhabits slow moving water bodies like ponds and lakes of the South.

The Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis), also known as the Florida River Cooter, lives in slow flowing rivers and streams from Virginia, south through Florida.

They are an above averaged sized turtle, growing up to sixteen inches in length. Their diet consists primarily of local plant life.

The picture shows a specimen with a colorful green and yellow patterned shell. Often the shell pattern is hidden by a green algae or moss cover, making identification of any species difficult.

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.

© 2005-2012 Patricia A. Michaels