Peninsula Cooter
Scientific Name: Pseudemys peninsularis
Identification: The Peninsula Cooter is often confused with the Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana floridana). The Peninsula Cooter has a brown carapace with golden and yellow stripes all over it. The carapace is round, domed and non serrated. The plastron is round and yellow. They are distinguished from the Florida Cooter 
by differences in head markings. 
The yellowish orange stripes on the head of the Florida Cooter do not form "hairpins", as in P. peninsularis. The plastron has no markings, and there are full oval markings on the underside of the marginal scutes distinguishing it from P. floridana which has hollow or light colored spots. These spots end at the rear portion of the bridge in Peninsularis while they continue to the tail in P. floridana. The limbs are scaly with thick yellow stripes. The tail is heavier in males than in females.
by differences in head markings. The yellowish orange stripes on the head of the Florida Cooter do not form "hairpins", as in P. peninsularis. The plastron has no markings, and there are full oval markings on the underside of the marginal scutes distinguishing it from P. floridana which has hollow or light colored spots. These spots end at the rear portion of the bridge in Peninsularis while they continue to the tail in P. floridana. The limbs are scaly with thick yellow stripes. The tail is heavier in males than in females.Range: From Levy, Alachua, Putnam, and St. Johns counties southward through peninsular Florida
Diet: Mainly herbivores, juveniles will eat some fish and insects, but become more vegetarian with age. Pellets and greens, along with occasional fruits, are all they need to thrive.
Peninsula Cooters are an excellent community tank turtle. They love to bask, especially in groups. Adults are very good outdoor pond turtles in summer months, or year round in warmer climates. Peninsula Cooters are an excellent choice for just getting started with turtles, or for any keepers who want to see some“pretty green”in their community set ups.
While this species frequently basks they are much more shy than the sympatric Trachemys species and as a result they may be more common in an area than suspected by casual observers. Diurnal by nature, these turtles wake with the warming sun to bask and forage. They can move with surprising speed in the water and on land. It is not unusual for them to wander from one body of fresh water to another, but many seem to develope fairly large home ranges, which they seldom or never leave. They sleep in the water, hidden under vegetation.
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