Pseudemys peninsularis Peninsula Cooter
Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, FloridaDecember 27, 2000
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis) Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
This turtle was milling about in a large shallowish pond along with some Florida softshell turtles, begging for handouts from visitors. It's a sad sight to see a turtle beg, and not one I ever expected.
Blue Spring State Park, Volusia County, FloridaSeptember 20, 2001
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
This tiny turtle was about ten feet below me on a log on the river's edge. The ornateness of the shell pattern makes me fairly certain that this is Pseudemys peninsularis and not Pseudemys nelsoni, which generally has a much simpler pattern.
Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, FloridaDecember 27, 2002
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
These turtles are generally wary on shore, ready to live up to their names and slide back into the water at the slightest disturbance. This one must have been really enjoying the pleasant day because it let me sneak up quite close.
Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, FloridaFebruary 4, 2004
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
Yet another badly-lit shot of a Peninsula Cooter about to slide into the pond if I try to sneak around to the proper side.
Corkscrew Swamp Wildlife Sanctuary, Collier County, FloridaApril 3, 2010
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
I noticed this floating turtle while scouring the floating water plants, unsuccessfully looking for water snakes. Consolation prize!
Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Miami-Dade County, FloridaMarch 12, 2013
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
I'm pretty sure these turtles were gossiping about me when I turned my back.
Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park, Miami-Dade County, FloridaMarch 23, 2013
Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis)
This one has a particularly clean shell that clearly shows the swirly reddish reticulations.
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