Alabama red-bellied cooter | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Emydidae |
Genus: | Pseudemys |
Species: | P. alabamensis
|
Binomial name | |
Pseudemys alabamensis | |
Alabama red-bellied cooter range [3] | |
Synonyms [4] | |
|
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]
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. Nesting of the red-bellied turtle occurs from May through July. Female turtles lay their eggs on dry land, digging nests in sandy soil, where 4 to 9 eggs are laid. Hatchlings usually emerge during the summer. When the turtles nest in late July, hatchlings may overwinter in the nest and emerge the following spring.[ citation needed]
A mature female can be 14 inches (360 mm), while a mature male can be 12 inches (300 mm). [6]
As of June 2009 the turtle has been seen in the central part of Alabama, in the Elmore County region.[ citation needed]
This turtle has also been found in south-eastern Mississippi, [7] in Harrison and Jackson counties. [6]
In 2007, a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) chain-link fence has been 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.[ citation needed]
Alabama red-bellied cooter | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Emydidae |
Genus: | Pseudemys |
Species: | P. alabamensis
|
Binomial name | |
Pseudemys alabamensis | |
Alabama red-bellied cooter range [3] | |
Synonyms [4] | |
|
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]
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. Nesting of the red-bellied turtle occurs from May through July. Female turtles lay their eggs on dry land, digging nests in sandy soil, where 4 to 9 eggs are laid. Hatchlings usually emerge during the summer. When the turtles nest in late July, hatchlings may overwinter in the nest and emerge the following spring.[ citation needed]
A mature female can be 14 inches (360 mm), while a mature male can be 12 inches (300 mm). [6]
As of June 2009 the turtle has been seen in the central part of Alabama, in the Elmore County region.[ citation needed]
This turtle has also been found in south-eastern Mississippi, [7] in Harrison and Jackson counties. [6]
In 2007, a 3.4 miles (5.5 km) chain-link fence has been 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.[ citation needed]