Alabama red-bellied cooter
| 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
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudemys alabamensis (Baur, 1893)[1]
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| Synonyms[3] | |
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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.[4]
Life history
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[5] 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. However, 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, while a mature male can be 12 inches.[5]
Location
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,[6] in Harrison and Jackson counties.[5]
Protection
A 3.4 miles (5.5 km) chain-link fence has been constructed along the US 98 causeway (Battleship Parkway) that separates the Mobile-Tensaw delta from Mobile Bay.[7] Hatchling deaths dropped 80% from 2007 to 2008.
Gallery
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hatchling -
hatchling, bottom shell -
hatchling, carapace view
References
- ^ a b c Rhodin 2011, p. 000.181
- ^ a b c Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Pseudemys alabamensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. IUCN: e.T18458A97296493. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T18458A8295960.en. Retrieved 9 January 2018. Listed as Endangered (EN B1+2c v2.3)
- ^ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 192. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Official Alabama Reptile". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 12 July 2001. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
- ^ a b c http://www.gdomag.com/stories.php?story=08/10/27/4668945
- ^ Southern Wonder: Alabama's Surprising Biodiversity by R. Scot Duncan, University of Alabama Press, 2013, page 367, ISBN 9780817357504
- ^ http://baldwinreport.com/2007/11/14/turtle-protectors-on-the-causeway/
External links
- Save the Alabama Red-bellied turtle—Alabama red-bellied turtle alliance
Emydidae family | ||||
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| Genera |
|  | ||
| Chrysemys | ||||
| Clemmys | ||||
| Deirochelys | ||||
| Actinemys | ||||
| Emys | ||||
| Emydoidea | ||||
| Glyptemys | ||||
| Graptemys | ||||
| Malaclemys | ||||
| Pseudemys | ||||
| Terrapene | ||||
| Trachemys | ||||
| †Wilburemys | ||||
Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. Key: †=extinct. | ||||