River cooter

River cooter
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Subclass:	Anapsida
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Subfamily:	Deirochelyinae
Genus:	Pseudemys
Species:	P. concinna
Synonyms[1]
Pseudemys concinna concinna Testudo concinna LeConte, 1830 Emys annulifera Gray, 1831 Emys (Testudo) concinna Bonaparte, 1831 Terrapene concinna Bonaparte, 1831 Clemmys (Clemmys) concinna Fitzinger, 1835 Emys hieroglyphica Holbrook, 1836 Emys mobilensis Holbrook, 1838 Emys labyrinthica Duméril & Bibron, 1851 Emys mobiliensis LeConte, 1854 (ex errore) Pseudemys concinna Gray, 1856 Pseudemys hieroglyphica Gray, 1856 Ptychemys concinna Agassiz, 1857 Ptychemys hieroglyphica Agassiz, 1857 Ptychemys hoyi Agassiz, 1857 Ptychemys mobiliensis Agassiz, 1857 Clemmys hieroglyphica Strauch, 1862 Clemmys labyrinthica Strauch, 1862 Clemmys mobilensis Strauch, 1862 Pseudemys mobiliensis Gray, 1863 Emys orthonyx Wied, 1865 Pseudemys labyrinthica Gray, 1870 Trachemys annulifera Gray, 1873 Pseudemys mobilensis Yarrow, 1883 Chrysemys concinna Boulenger, 1889 Chrysemys hieroglyphica Boulenger, 1889 Chrysemys mobiliensis Boulenger, 1889 Clemmys mobiliensis Strauch, 1890 Chrysemys labyrinthica Hay, 1892 Pseudemys elonae Brimley, 1928 Pseudemys vioscana Brimley, 1928 Pseudemys floridana concinna Carr, 1935 Pseudemys floridana mobiliensis Carr, 1937 Pseudemys concinna hoyi Stejneger, 1938 Pseudemys floridana hieroglyphica Carr, 1938 Pseudemys concinna concinna Stejneger & Barbour, 1939 Pseudemys concinna hieroglyphica Stejneger & Barbour, 1939 Pseudemys concinna mobilensis Stejneger & Barbour, 1939 Pseudemys floridana mobilensis Pope, 1939 Pseudemys floridana hoyi Brown, 1950 Pseudemys concinna mobiliensis Carr, 1952 Pseudemys virginica Pasteels, 1957 (nomen nudum) Chrysemys concinna concinna Weaver & Rose, 1967 Chrysemys concinna hieroglyphica Weaver & Rose, 1967 Chrysemys concinna mobilensis Cochran & Goin, 1970 Chrysemys floridana hoyi Cochran & Goin, 1970 Pseudemys concinna metteri Ward, 1984 Pseudemys floridana noyi Ferri, 2002 (ex errore) Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Pseudemys floridana suwanniensis Carr, 1937 Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis Stejneger & Barbour, 1939 Pseudemys concinna suuranniensis Rhodes, 1966 (ex errore) Chrysemys concinna suwanniensis Weaver & Rose, 1967 Pseudemys sueanniensis Nothstine, Davis & DeRoos 1971 (ex errore) Pseudemys suenniensis Dadd, 1974 (ex errore) Pseudemys suwanniensis Collins, 1991

The river cooter (Pseudemys concinna) is a freshwater turtle native to the central and eastern United States, from Virginia south to mid-Georgia, west to eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and north to southern Indiana. They are usually found in rivers with moderate current, as well as lakes and tidal marshes.^[2]

Name

The genus Pseudemys includes several species of cooters and red-bellied turtles. Pseudemys concinna is the species known as the River cooter. The name "cooter" may have come from an African word "kuta" which means "turtle" in the Bambara and Malinké languages, brought to America by African slaves.^[3]

Behavior

River cooters enjoy basking on logs or sun-warmed rocks, and are frequently found in the company of other aquatic basking turtles (sliders and painteds) sometimes piled up on top of each other. All are quick to slip into the water if disturbed. Diurnal by nature, these turtles wake with the warming sun to bask and forage. They can move with surprising speed in the water and on land. It is not unusual for them to wander from one body of fresh water to another, but many seem to develop fairly large home ranges, which they seldom or never leave. They sleep in the water, hidden under vegetation. While those that live in areas that are quite warm remain active all winter, river cooters in cooler climes can become dormant during the winter for up to two months, in the mud, underwater. They do not breathe during this time of low metabolism, but can utilize oxygen from the water, which they take in through the cloaca. River cooters prefer to be well hidden under aquatic plants during the winter dormancy period or while sleeping each night.^[4]

Diet

While the species is highly omnivorous, river cooters will eat anything, plant or animal, dead or alive. Diet seems to be determined by available food items. While some writers feel that these turtles will not eat meat, predatory behavior has been observed. Although this animal cannot swallow out of water, it will leave the water to retrieve a tasty bug or worm, returning to the water to swallow. Cooters will also enthusiastically chase, kill and eat small fish. They have also been observed eating carrion found along the river's edge. River cooters have tooth-like cusps in the upper jaw, probably an adaptation to aid in eating leaves and fibrous vegetation. Their primary diet would include a wide variety of aquatic plants, and some terrestrial plants that grow near the water's edge. They will happily take fallen fruits as well. In captivity, any kind of plant will be eaten, and some "meats", too. Turtles will also take calcium in a separate form, such as a cuttlebone, so that the turtle can self-regulate calcium intake.^[4]

Longevity

River cooters are faced with loss of habitat, predation by animals, slaughter on the highways and use as a food source by some people. Hatchlings are particularly vulnerable. During their overland scramble to the river, many will be taken by avian and mammal predators. Alligators and muskrats await them in the water. Some will be taken and sold to pet stores. Populations are down in some areas, and there have been increasing reports of injured turtles, but this species as a whole is hardy, and continues to thrive. These turtles can live 40 years or more.^[4]

Reproduction

River cooters mating habits are very similar to a red-eared slider. As with the other basking turtles, the males tend to be smaller than females. The male uses his long claws to flutter at the face of the much larger female. Often, the female ignores him. After detecting what may be a pheromone signal while sniffing at a female's tail, a male river cooter will court a female by swimming above her, vibrating his long nails and stroking her face. Females have also been observed doing this to initiate courtship. If the female is receptive, she will sink to the bottom of the river and allow the male to mount for mating.^[4] If they do mate, after several weeks the female crawls upon land to seek a nesting site. They often cross highways looking for suitable nesting spots. Females will lay between 12 to 20 eggs at a time, close to water. The eggs hatch within 45 to 56 days and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through their first winter.

Mating takes place in early spring. Nesting usually occurs from May to June. The female chooses a site with sandy or loamy soil, within 100 ft (30 m) of the river's edge. She looks for a rather open area, with no major obstacles for the future hatchings to negotiate on their way to the river. The nest is dug with the hind feet. She lays 10–25 or more eggs in one or more clutches. Eggs are ellipsoidal, approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) long. Incubation time is determined by temperature, but averages 90–100 days. Hatchlings generally emerge in August or September. There have been reported instances of late clutches over-wintering and hatching in the spring. A hatchling will have a round carapace, about 1.5 inches (4 cm) diameter, that is green with bright yellow markings.^[4]

In the wild

In the wild they feed on aquatic plants, grasses, and algae. Younger ones tend to seek a more protein enriched diet such as aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and fish. Older turtles may occasionally seek prey as well, but mostly partake of a herbivorous diet.

These turtles can sometimes be found basking in the sun, but are very wary and will quickly retreat into the water if approached. Otherwise, they are difficult to find in the water, which may be due to their ability to breathe while fully submerged. As a result, little is known about their biology and behavior.

River cooters live in a wide variety of freshwater and even brackish locations. Rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes with heavy vegetation provide ideal habitat. Large webbed feet make the river cooter an excellent swimmer, capable of negotiating moderately strong river currents of major river systems. They will collect in large numbers on peninsular floodplains associated with a river oxbow.^[4]

As pets

In captivity, cooters need an aquatic habitat, with a dry basking area. They need a warming light and UVB radiation (from reptile lights or direct sunshine). As juveniles, they can be kept in a 20- or 30-gallon long tank, but they will outgrow those accommodations, and need a very large tank or outdoor pond. Males cooters will grow smaller than the female cooters, same with any other turtle.

Conservation

In Indiana, the river cooter is listed as an endangered species.^[5]

United States federal regulations on commercial distribution

A 1975 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation bans the sale (for general commercial and public use) of turtle eggs and turtles with a carapace length of less than 4 inches (100 mm). This regulation comes under the Public Health Service Act and is enforced by the FDA in cooperation with State and local health jurisdictions. The ban has been effective in the U.S. since 1975 because of the public health impact of turtle-associated Salmonella. Turtles and turtle eggs found to be offered for sale in violation of this provision are subject to destruction in accordance with FDA procedures. A fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year is the penalty for those who refuse to comply with a valid final demand for destruction of such turtles or their eggs.^[6]

Many stores and flea markets still sell small turtles due to an exception in the FDA regulation which allows turtles under 4 inches (100 mm) to be sold "for bona fide scientific, educational, or exhibitional purposes, other than use as pets."^[7]

As with many other animals and inanimate objects, the risk of Salmonella exposure can be reduced by following basic rules of cleanliness. Small children must be taught not to put the turtle in their mouth and to wash their hands immediately after they finish "playing" with the turtle, feeding it, or changing the water.

References

v t e Family Emydidae (pond turtles) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Testudinoidea Family: Emydidae Genus Species of the subfamily Deirochelyinae Chrysemys Painted turtle Deirochelys Chicken turtle Graptemys Alabama map turtle Barbour's map turtle Black-knobbed map turtle Cagle's map turtle Escambia map turtle False map turtle Northern map turtle Ouachita map turtle Pascagoula map turtle Pearl river map turtle Ringed map turtle Texas map turtle Yellow-blotched map turtle Malaclemys Diamondback terrapin Pseudemys Alabama red-bellied cooter Northern red-bellied cooter Florida red-bellied cooter Peninsula cooter Rio Grande cooter River cooter Texas river cooter Trachemys Big bend slider Baja California slider Central Antillean slider Colombian slider Cuatro Cienegas slider Cuban slider D'Orbigny's slider Hispaniolan slider Jamaican slider Maranhão slider Meso-American slider Nicaraguan slider Ornate slider Pond slider Yaqui slider   Species of the subfamily Emydinae Clemmys Spotted turtle Emys Blanding's turtle European pond turtle Sicilian pond turtle Western pond turtle Glyptemys Bog turtle Wood turtle Terrapene Coahuilan box turtle Common box turtle Ornate box turtle Spotted box turtle Phylogenetic arrangement based on turtles of the world 2011 update: annotated checklist. Subspecies and the extinct (Gyremys sectabilis) are not included.