Northern Red-bellied Cooter
Pseudemys rubriventris
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyEmydidae (Pond and Box Turtles)
- GenusPseudemys (Cooters)
- SpeciesPseudemys rubriventris (Northern Red-bellied Cooter)
About the Northern Red-bellied Cooter
The northern red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris) or American red-bellied turtle is a species of turtle in the Pseudemys (cooter) genus of the family Emydidae. This is a fairly large river turtle. Females average about 30 cm (12 in) in length and weigh on average around 3 kg (6.6 lb), although large females can measure up to 40 cm (16 in). Males' maximum size is 29.5 centimetres (11.6 in). The northern red-bellied turtle is the largest recorded basking turtle in the Chesapeake Bay region.
It is endemic to the United States. The current range of the red-bellied turtle includes a population in Massachusetts, the Plymouth red-bellied turtle, which was previously considered a distinct subspecies (Pseudemys rubriventris bangsi) as well as the coastal areas of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
The red-bellied turtle has appeared on Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission lists of endangered amphibians and reptiles since 1978 (McCoy 1985). By 1985 the red-bellied turtle was known to exist in Pennsylvania only in isolated colonies in a few counties (McCoy 1985). Small (less than thirty individuals... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Northern Red-bellied Cooter in Shenandoah National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Shenandoah National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Northern Red-bellied Cooter in Shenandoah National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Northern Red-bellied Cooter sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Northern Red-bellied Cooter in Shenandoah National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Northern Red-bellied Cooter in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.