Florida Red-bellied Turtle

Pseudemys nelsoni

Reptiles & Amphibians250 to 350 mmIn the app

This species of turtle has a relatively high-domed shell with a dark, minimally patterned carapace, and starts out with a red plastron that fades to yellow in adults. The…

How to identify

This species of turtle has a relatively high-domed shell with a dark, minimally patterned carapace, and starts out with a red plastron that fades to yellow in adults. They reach 25-30 cm in length, with males being smaller than females. Their skin is black with thin yellow lines spaced far apart. The first 3 rows of costal scutes on their carapace have red or yellow streaks with faded edges.

Range

Native to most of Florida and southeastern Georgia. Introduced populations are established in Texas and the British Virgin Islands. Due to excessive use in the pet and food trades, escaped individuals have been reported in other places such as California, parts of Europe, and South Korea.

Habitat

Aquatic species that can be found in and around various bodies of slow-moving fresh or brackish water with dense growth of aquatic vegetation. They sometimes nest within American alligator nests.

Variations

Juveniles are more vibrantly colored and patterned. Adults may lack the colorful streaks on the carapace, or yellow stripes on their legs.

Similar species

This species could be easily confused with the river cooter (*Pseudemys concinna*), chicken turtle (*Deirochelys reticularia*), or common slider (*Trachemys scripta*). Also the peninsular cooter (*Pseudemys peninsularis*), which is sometimes considered a subspecies of the river cooter.