Biology:Alabama red-bellied cooter

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Short description: Species of turtle native to Alabama

Alabama red-bellied cooter
This turtle was sitting on the bank of Mobile Bay.
Scientific classification edit
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 Alabama.[1][2] It belongs to the turtle family Emydidae, the pond turtles. It is the official reptile of the state of Alabama.[5]

Life history

The red-belly inhabits the fresh to brackish waters of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in Mobile and Baldwin counties.[2] It feeds on aquatic vegetation[6] and can be found sunning itself on logs.

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

Location

This turtle has also been found in south-eastern Mississippi,[7] in Harrison and Jackson counties.[6] It may also exist in northwest Florida.[2]

Protection

In 2007, a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) chain-link fence was 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.

Predation

Eggs and hatchlings of this turtle are eaten by humans, wild boars, raccoons, fish crows, nine-banded armadillos and red imported fire ants. Hatchlings may also be eaten by aquatic snakes and great blue herons. Adults may be eaten by American alligators.[9]

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

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Iverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Roger, Bour (2011-12-31). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs 5: 000.181. http://www.iucn-tftsg.org/wp-content/uploads/file/Accounts/crm_5_000_checklist_v4_2011.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 ((Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group)) (1996). "Pseudemys alabamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T18458A8295960.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/18458/8295960. Retrieved 25 July 2024.  Listed as Endangered (EN B1+2c v2.3)
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey (2017). "Alabama Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys alabamensis) rARBCx_CONUS_2001v1 Range Map". Gap Analysis Project. doi:10.5066/F7Z31XTN. 
  4. ↑ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 192. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. 
  5. ↑ "Official Alabama Reptile". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2001-07-12. http://www.archives.state.al.us/emblems/st_rept.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Alabama – Great Days Outdoors Magazine Fishing, Hunting – Dedicated to Sportsmen and Their Families". http://www.gdomag.com/stories.php?story=08%2F10%2F27%2F4668945. 
  7. ↑ Southern Wonder: Alabama's Surprising Biodiversity by R. Scot Duncan, University of Alabama Press, 2013, page 367, ISBN 9780817357504
  8. ↑ "Turtle protectors on the Causeway – BaldwinReport.com". http://baldwinreport.com/2007/11/14/turtle-protectors-on-the-causeway/. 
  9. ↑ Pseudemys alabamensis (Alabama Redbelly turtle). Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pseudemys_alabamensis/

Template:Emydidae

Wikidata ☰ Q597376 entry



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