Texas Cooter
Pseudemys texana
A somewhat large turtle with green skin covered in thin yellow stripes. Its dorsal carapace is a rather dull greenish brown, while the plastron and ventral carapace are d…
How to identify
A somewhat large turtle with green skin covered in thin yellow stripes. Its dorsal carapace is a rather dull greenish brown, while the plastron and ventral carapace are dark yellow to orange. There are concentric dark ring patterns on the ventral surface and sides of the carapace. It can grow to over 12 inches in length, with females being larger than males.
Range
Endemic to most of central Texas.
Habitat
Lives in and around slow-moving freshwater streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Often seen basking on rocks and logs.
Variations
Their skin markings fade with age. Some individuals have subtle intricate yellow or orange patterning on their dorsal carapace, which is only seen when the shell is clean and wet. Males have longer tails and claws.
Similar species
Could be misidentified as the common slider (*Trachemys scripta*), river cooter (*Pseudemys concinna*), Rio Grande cooter (*Pseudemys gorzugi*), or the northern map turtle (*Graptemys geographica*).
Name and etymology
Texana: Belong to Texas.
At a glance
Range
Endemic to most of central Texas.
Habitat
Lives in and around slow-moving freshwater streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Often seen basking on rocks and logs.
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap