Reptiles
Florida Red-Bellied Cooter
Pseudemys nelsoni · also called Florida red-bellied turtle, Florida redbelly cooter
Along the edge of a Florida lake, several Florida red-bellied cooters bask stacked on top of one another atop a single log, their tall, domed shells and reddish undersides making them one of the most recognisable basking turtles in the state.
Overview
The Florida red-bellied cooter, Pseudemys nelsoni, is a large, herbivorous turtle native to lakes, rivers, and other wetland habitat across Florida and adjacent parts of southern Georgia. Its distinctive reddish-orange underside, tall domed shell, and habit of basking in stacked groups make it one of the most visually recognisable and commonly observed basking turtles found throughout Florida’s waterways.
A turtle built for stacking
With basking spots often at a premium, the Florida red-bellied cooter’s tolerance for piling on top of its neighbours turns a single sun-warmed log into shared real estate for several turtles at once.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable lake, river, and wetland habitat throughout Florida and adjacent Georgia.
Florida Red-Bellied Cooter: common questions
Why is it called the Florida red-bellied cooter?
This species displays a reddish-orange plastron, or lower shell, a distinctive colouration clearly visible when the turtle is flipped or viewed from certain angles, and this feature, combined with its strong association with Florida's lakes and rivers, gives the species its common name.
Why do Florida red-bellied cooters bask in stacked groups?
This species often basks in groups with multiple individuals stacking on top of one another along a single log or bank, a behaviour likely driven by limited availability of good basking sites combined with the shared benefits of sun exposure, making stacked basking turtles a common and recognisable sight on Florida waterways.
What does the Florida red-bellied cooter eat?
This species feeds predominantly on aquatic vegetation, a more strongly herbivorous diet than some other basking turtle species, which supplement plant material with more animal prey such as insects, snails, or carrion.
How can you identify a Florida red-bellied cooter?
Look for a notably tall, domed upper shell combined with a reddish-orange underside, a distinctive combination of features that, along with its strong association with Florida lakes and rivers, helps distinguish this species from several other similarly shaped basking turtles in the same habitat.