River cooter facts for kids
The river cooter (Pseudemys concinna) is a type of freshwater turtle. It belongs to a group of turtles called Emydidae. You can find these turtles living in rivers and lakes across the central and eastern United States.
Quick facts for kids River cooter |
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| Coastal plain cooter, P. concinna floridana | |
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Pseudemys
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| Species: |
concinna
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Contents
Where River Cooters Live
River cooters live in many parts of the United States. You can find them from Virginia down to central Georgia. They also live west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma, and north to southern Indiana.
River Cooter Habitats
River cooters usually live in rivers where the water moves at a medium speed. They also like lakes and tidal marshes, which are wet, grassy areas near the coast.
Types of River Cooters
There are three main types, or subspecies, of river cooters:
- Pseudemys concinna concinna (LeConte, 1830) – This is the eastern river cooter.
- Pseudemys concinna floridana (LeConte, 1830) – This is the coastal plain cooter, also called the Florida cooter. Some scientists think it might be its own separate species, P. floridana.
- Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis (Carr, 1937) – This is the Suwannee cooter. Some also think it might be a separate species, P. suwanniensis.
The word "cooter" might come from an old African word, "kuta." This word means "turtle" in the Bambara and Malinké languages. It was brought to America by African people long ago.
River Cooter Behavior
River cooters love to warm up in the sun. They often bask on logs or rocks that have been heated by the sun. You might see them with other sun-loving turtles, like sliders, sometimes even piled on top of each other! If something scares them, they quickly slip back into the water.
These turtles are active during the day, which means they are diurnal. They wake up when the sun gets warm to bask and look for food. They can move surprisingly fast both in the water and on land. Sometimes, they even travel from one body of water to another. However, many cooters stay in a certain area and rarely leave it.
At night, river cooters sleep underwater, hidden under plants. In very warm places, they stay active all winter. But in cooler areas, they can become dormant (like hibernating) for up to two months during winter. They hide in the mud underwater. During this time, their bodies slow down, and they don't breathe air. Instead, they can get oxygen from the water through a special part of their body called the cloaca.
What River Cooters Eat
River cooters are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. They will eat almost anything they can find, whether it's alive or dead. What they eat often depends on what food is available.
While some people think these turtles only eat plants, they have been seen hunting. They can't swallow food when they are out of the water. But they will leave the water to grab a bug or worm, then go back to the water to swallow it. They also enjoy chasing, killing, and eating small fish. Sometimes, they even eat dead animals they find along the river's edge.
River cooters have special tooth-like bumps in their upper jaw. These probably help them eat leaves and tough plants. Their main diet includes many kinds of water plants and some land plants that grow near the water. They also like to eat fallen fruits. If kept as pets, they will eat all sorts of plants and some meats. Turtles also need calcium, so they might eat things like cuttlebone to get enough.
River Cooter Life Cycle
The way river cooters mate is much like how red-eared slider turtles mate. Male river cooters are usually smaller than females. The male will use his long claws to gently flutter at the female's face. Sometimes, the female might ignore him.
After sniffing the female's tail, a male cooter might sense a special chemical signal called a pheromone. He will then try to court the female by swimming above her. He vibrates his long claws and strokes her face. Females have also been seen starting this courtship dance. If the female is ready, she will sink to the bottom of the river. This allows the male to get on her back for mating.
If mating happens, the female will crawl onto land several weeks later to find a place to lay her eggs. Females often cross roads to find good nesting spots. They lay between 12 and 20 eggs at a time, usually close to the water. The eggs hatch in about 45 to 56 days. The baby turtles, called hatchlings, often stay in the nest through their first winter.
Mating usually happens in early spring. Nesting takes place from May to June. The female chooses a spot with sandy or soft soil, usually within 100 ft (30 m) of the river. She looks for an open area with no big obstacles. This makes it easier for the baby turtles to reach the river later. She digs the nest with her back feet. She lays 10 to 25 or more eggs in one or more groups. The eggs are oval-shaped, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) long.
How long the eggs take to hatch depends on the temperature, but it's usually about 90 to 100 days. Hatchlings usually come out in August or September. Sometimes, if eggs are laid late, they might stay in the nest all winter and hatch in the spring. A baby river cooter has a round shell, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) across. It is green with bright yellow marks.
River Cooters in the Wild
In the wild, young river cooters eat more protein, like water insects, small crabs, and fish. Older turtles mostly eat plants, such as aquatic plants, grasses, and algae. They might sometimes hunt, but plants are their main food.
River cooters can be hard to spot in the water because they can breathe underwater. This means we don't know a lot about their daily lives and habits. They are very cautious when basking in the sun. If you get too close, they will quickly dive back into the water.
These turtles live in many kinds of freshwater places, and even some places where fresh and salt water mix. Rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes with lots of plants are perfect homes for them. Their large webbed feet make them excellent swimmers. They can handle the medium currents of big rivers. You might see many of them gathered in areas that flood near river bends.
Conservation Status
The river cooter faces several challenges. These include losing their homes, being hunted by other animals, and getting hit by cars on roads. Some people also use them as a food source. Baby turtles are especially at risk. Many hatchlings are caught by birds and mammals as they try to reach the river. Alligators and muskrats wait for them in the water. Some are also caught and sold to pet stores.
In some areas, the number of river cooters is going down. There are also more reports of injured turtles. However, overall, this type of turtle is strong and continues to do well. River cooters can live for 40 years or even longer!
Rules for Selling Turtles
In the United States, there are rules about selling turtles. Since 1975, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of turtle eggs and turtles with shells less than 4 inches (100 mm) long. This rule was made to protect people from Salmonella, a type of bacteria that turtles can carry.
If small turtles or their eggs are sold against this rule, they can be taken away. People who don't follow this rule can face fines or even jail time. However, some stores still sell small turtles. This is allowed if the turtles are for scientific, educational, or display purposes, not as pets.
To stay safe, it's important to always wash your hands after touching a turtle, feeding it, or cleaning its tank. Small children should be taught not to put turtles in their mouths.
