A medium turtle endemic to the Mobile Bay drainage of Alabama. Federally endangered. Distinguished from other red-bellied turtles by Alabama-only range and subtle features.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The Alabama red-bellied cooter or Alabama red-bellied turtle, is native to Alabama. It belongs to the turtle family Emydidae, the pond turtles. It is the official reptile of the state of Alabama.
Source: Wikipedia — Alabama red-bellied cooter Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium turtle with high-domed olive-brown shell; bright red plastron; yellow head markings.
Similar species. Other Pseudemys species (different ranges). Florida Red-belly (overlapping range).
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Aquatic plants (primary), insects, snails, occasional crayfish.
Behavior. Federally endangered (listed 1987). Endemic to Mobile Bay drainage of Alabama. Population <2,000 individuals; threats include habitat loss, road mortality of nesting females, predation of nests.
§ Range
Mobile Bay drainage, Alabama
§ Habitat
Slow rivers, lakes
§ Threats
Pollution, road mortality, dam impacts, illegal collection.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the alabama red-bellied turtle is currently classified as Endangered.
§ What helps
Support Mobile Bay conservation. Don't collect from wild. Donate to USFWS.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Alabama red-bellied cooter
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Pseudemys alabamensis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 18459
- iNaturalist · taxon 39791
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pseudemys alabamensis
§ Sources cited
- USFWS Alabama Red-bellied Recovery
- Alabama Department of Conservation
- IUCN Red List 2011
