Question 13 (Cooters)


Note: the taxonomy of the river cooter P. concinna and the florida cooter P. floridana is under heavy debate. Some consider variations to be different species or subspecies while others recognize only one or two subspecies. I have tried to list all of the variations and the various scientific names by which they are known. Also, both P. concinna and P. floridana intergrade heavily where ranges overlap and are variable in pattern making identification difficult at best.
    13A:
      Shell brown to black with numerous maze-like white, yellow, or orange lines. Lines form concentric circles. Vertical yellowish bars around upper edge of shell, black blotches along underside edge of shell. Lower shell yellow or orange, sometimes with dark pattern. Found in all coastal states from Virginia to Georgia, possibly Alabama.
      Eastern River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, P. concinna concinna

    13B:
      Shell with numerous yellow or orange lines that do not form concentric circles. Black ring-shaped markings on underside edge of shell. Lower shell solid orange or yellow, unpatterned. From coastal areas of the Carolinas, Georgia, and Alabama and northern Florida. Babies resemble adults.
      Florida Cooter, Pseudemys floridana, P. f. floridana

    13C:
      Shell with widely-spaced yellow lines, dark smudges on underside edge of shell. Lower shell solid yellow. From Florida peninsula only. Babies more brightly colored, but resemble adults.
      Peninsula Cooter, Pseudemys floridana, P. f. peninsularis, P. peninsularis

    13D:
      Shell with very numerous, closely spaced yellowish lines that form concentric circles. Thin ring-shaped markings on underside edge of shell. No vertical bars around upper edge of shell. Lower shell yellowish with dark scute borders. From Texas only. Babies resemble adults.
      Texas Slider AKA Texas River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna texana, P. texana

    13E:
      Shell with very numerous, closely spaced orange lines that form a wavy maze-like pattern. Ring-shaped markings on underside edge of shell. Thin vertical bars around upper edge of shell. Lower shell orange with dark lines and markings. From Rio Grande River system only. Babies resemble adults.
      Rio Grande Cooter AKA Western River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna gorzugi, P. gorzugi

    13F:
      Shell with numerous closely spaced yellow or orange lines that form concentric circles. Dark blotches on underside edge of shell. Lower shell intricately patterned. From Tennessee River drainage. Babies resemble adults.
      Heiroglyphic River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica, P. concinna, P. hieroglyphica

    13G:
      High-domed shell in adults, mostly black with faded yellow lines. From gulf coast of Florida. Lower shell yellow or orange. Back feet solid black. Babies more brightly colored, but resemble adults.
      Suwannee River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis, P. suwanniensis

    13H:
      Shell with widely spaced yellow or orange lines that form a wavy pattern. Dark blotches on underside edge of shell. Lower shell with well-defined pattern. From Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas. Babies resemble adults.
      Missouri River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna metteri, P. concinna

    13I:
      Shell with closely spaced yellow or orange lines that form concentric circles. Dark blotches on underside edge of shell. Lower shell patterned. Smaller than other varieties, head stripes red or orange. From gulf coast from Florida panhandle to eastern Texas. Babies resemble adults.
      Mobile Bay Cooter, Pseudemys concinna mobilensis, P. concinna


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