A medium turtle with reddish belly and dark olive shell. Northeastern populations isolated; some genetically distinct.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The northern red-bellied turtle or American red-bellied turtle is a species of turtle in the Pseudemys (cooter) genus of the family Emydidae.
Source: Wikipedia — Northern red-bellied cooter Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium turtle with dark olive shell; bright red plastron; yellow head markings.
Similar species. Other Pseudemys species. Alabama Red-bellied (range distinct).
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Aquatic plants (primary), insects, snails.
Behavior. Native to mid-Atlantic coastal rivers. Federally listed for Delaware River subpopulation. Habitat loss is major threat.
§ Range
Northeastern US Coastal Plain
§ Habitat
Slow rivers, ponds, marshes
§ Threats
Habitat loss, road mortality, illegal collection.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern red-bellied turtle is currently classified as Near Threatened.
§ What helps
Don't collect from wild. Support northeastern wetland conservation.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Northern red-bellied cooter
- www.fws.gov — authoritative profile of Pseudemys rubriventris
- IUCN Red List · taxon 18460
- iNaturalist · taxon 39791
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pseudemys rubriventris
§ Sources cited
- USFWS Northern Red-belly Recovery
- State wildlife agencies
- IUCN Red List 2011
