Florida Redbelly Turtle
Pseudemys nelsoni
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyEmydidae (Pond and Box Turtles)
- GenusPseudemys (Cooters)
- SpeciesPseudemys nelsoni (Florida Redbelly Turtle)
About the Florida Redbelly Turtle
The Florida red-bellied cooter or Florida redbelly turtle (Pseudemys nelsoni) is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States. The specific name, nelsoni, is in honor of American biologist George Nelson (born 1873).
Pseudemys nelsoni is native to Florida, and southern Georgia. Fossils of P. nelsoni have also been found along the coast of South Carolina from the Pleistocene Epoch, indicating that the historic range of this species used to extend farther north. Today, its northern counterpart, the Northern Red-bellied Cooter (Psuedemys rubriventris) occupies this region.
The Florida red-bellied cooter is mainly herbivorous, and can be found in nearly any type of aquatic habitat. It feeds on a variety of aquatic plants including waterweed (Vallisneria and Elodea), duckweed (Lemna and Wolffia), and arrowhead (Sagittaria) species. It has been documented consuming algae as well. Juveniles tend to primarily consume small insects. As juveniles age, they transition to a plant-dominated diet. It reaches particularly high densities in spring runs, and occasionally can be found in... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Florida Redbelly Turtle in Everglades National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Everglades National Park
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Terrapene carolina
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Diamondback Terrapin
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Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Florida Redbelly Turtle in Everglades National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Florida Redbelly Turtle sighting in Everglades National Park, based on 1,040 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Florida Redbelly Turtle in Everglades National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Florida Redbelly Turtle in Everglades National Park in our monthly data.