Suwannee cooter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis
Suwannee cooters
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Pseudemys
Species:	P. concinna
Subspecies:	P. c. suwanniensis
Trinomial name
Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Carr, 1937

The Suwannee cooter is a special kind of freshwater turtle. Its scientific name is Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis. This turtle lives only in Florida, especially around the Suwannee River. When an animal lives only in one specific place, we say it is endemic to that area.

Protecting the Suwannee Cooter

For a long time, people hunted Suwannee cooters for their meat. This made their numbers go down. Luckily, these turtles are now protected by law. This helps them stay safe and healthy in their natural homes.

What Does a Suwannee Cooter Look Like?

Suwannee cooters have a very cool look!

• Their top shell, called a carapace, is usually black. It has bright yellow markings that stand out.
• Their bottom shell, called a plastron, is light orange or yellow. It also has black markings.
• Adult Suwannee cooters can grow quite large. Their shells can be up to 17 inches (about 43.7 centimeters) long. That's almost as long as a ruler!

What Do Suwannee Cooters Eat?

Suwannee cooters are mostly plant-eaters. Their diet mainly consists of different kinds of aquatic plants. These are plants that grow in the water where the turtles live.