Pseudemys nelsoni Carr, 1938

Distinguishing Traits

Pseudemys nelsoni, commonly known as the Florida red-bellied cooter, can be distinguished from other similar turtle species by two key traits: its distinctive red-tinged plastron, or belly, and two tooth-like cusps on its upper beak.

General Size Category

Like most other members of the genus Pseudemys, this species is a fairly large river turtle.

Carapace Length Range

Mature individuals have a straight-line carapace length that ranges from 20.3 to 37.5 cm, or 8.0 to 14.8 inches.

Sexual Dimorphism

Females are noticeably larger than males: females average 30.5 cm (12.0 inches) in carapace length and weigh 4 kg (8.8 lb), while males average around 25 cm (9.8 inches) in carapace length and 1.8 kg (4.0 lb) in mass.

Current Native Range

This species is native to Florida and southern Georgia in the United States.

Fossil Range Evidence

Pleistocene Epoch fossils of Pseudemys nelsoni have also been found along the coast of South Carolina, showing the species' historic range extended farther north than it does today.

Related Species Range

This former northern range is now occupied by the Florida red-bellied cooter's northern counterpart, the Northern Red-bellied Cooter, Pseudemys rubriventris.