Alabama red-bellied cooter

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Alabama red-bellied cooter
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Pseudemys
Species:
P. alabamensis
Binomial name
Pseudemys alabamensis
(Baur, 1893)[1]
Alabama red-bellied cooter range[3]
Synonyms[4]
  • Pseudemys alabamensis Baur, 1893
  • Chrysemys ababamensis Ditmars, 1907 (
    ex errore
    )
  • Pseudemys rubriventris alabamensis Stejneger, 1938
  • Chrysemys rubriventris alabamensis Obst, 1983

The Alabama red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys alabamensis) or Alabama red-bellied turtle, is native to

official reptile of the state of Alabama.[5]

Life history

The red-belly inhabits the fresh to brackish waters of the

Mobile and Baldwin counties.[2] It feeds on aquatic vegetation[6]
and can be found sunning itself on logs. Nesting of the red-bellied turtle occurs from May through July. Female turtles lay their eggs on dry land, digging nests in sandy soil, where 4 to 9 eggs are laid. Hatchlings usually emerge during the summer. When the turtles nest in late July, hatchlings may overwinter in the nest and emerge the following spring.[citation needed]

A mature female can be 14 inches (360 mm), while a mature male can be 12 inches (300 mm).[6]

Location

As of June 2009 the turtle has been seen in the central part of Alabama, in the Elmore County region.[citation needed]

This turtle has also been found in south-eastern Mississippi,[7] in Harrison and Jackson counties.[6]

Protection

In 2007, a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) chain-link fence has been constructed along part of the

US 98 causeway (Battleship Parkway) that separates the Mobile-Tensaw delta from Mobile Bay.[8] Hatchling deaths dropped 80% from 2007 to 2008.[citation needed
]

Gallery

  • Hatchling
    Hatchling
  • Hatchling, plastron
    Hatchling,
    plastron
  • Hatchling, carapace view
    Hatchling, carapace view

References

  1. ^ a b c Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Roger, Bour (31 December 2011). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status" (PDF). Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.181. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 January 2012.
  2. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T18458A8295960.en
    . Listed as Endangered (EN B1+2c v2.3)
  3. doi:10.5066/F7Z31XTN
    .
  4. S2CID 87809001
    .
  5. ^ "Official Alabama Reptile". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 12 July 2001. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  6. ^ a b c "Alabama – Great Days Outdoors Magazine Fishing, Hunting – Dedicated to Sportsmen and Their Families". Archived from the original on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  7. ISBN 9780817357504
  8. ^ "Turtle protectors on the Causeway – BaldwinReport.com". baldwinreport.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudemys alabamensis.
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