| Description: The
Eastern River Cooter ranges in size from 9-12 inches. The carapace
(upper shell) is brown with yellow to orange markings. A light,
backwards 'C' is found on the second pleural scale (one over from the
central scales on the carapace). The plastron is marked with a dark
pattern. The head is patterned with 5 yellow lines between the eyes.
Habitat: Found primarily in
slow to moderate moving rivers, but can be found in other aquatic
habitats.
Behavior: The river cooter
is mostly active during the day, regularly basking out of the water on the
bank, logs or other floating debris. They rarely leave water and do
so usually only to nest. Nesting occurs in loose sand or dirt near
water. Clutch size averages 20 eggs. River cooters are mostly
vegetarian, although some animal matter may be consumed. |
