While I know the turtle is one of two species, Peninsula Cooter or Florida Cooter, and I'm leaning toward Peninsula, I still need a couple more pieces of information. Where are you located (city)? Can you provide a pic of the top of the head? And do the roundish black markings on the underside marginal edges of the bridge of the plastron have any yellow areas in the black or are they completely black? If you are not positive, a picture of the turtle on its back would help solve the puzzle. Both peninsularis and floridana have well marked and very similar carapaces as well as both have yellow plastrons absent of black markings. Typically peninsularis will often have larger central yellowish markings on the carpacial scutes as your specimen demonstrates, but this is not a clear cut way to tell. Often the carapaces of floridana will look like peninsularis and vice versa. Also, peninsularis is the only cooter species with "hairpin" markings (different than laterally running yellow stripes common of all cooters) on top of the head so a head pic would help out. These two species will intergrade as well. Those darn cooters! I know this seems like a process but I'd rather not give an answer until the trademarks of the two species are revealed.



-JG

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