Reptile · GBIF taxon 2442816
Texas Cooter
Pseudemys texanaAlso known as Texas River Cooter
Texas cooters spend sunny days basking in groups on fallen trees and riverbanks along spring-fed rivers. Highly herbivorous as adults, they graze extensively on submerged aquatic plants like eelgrass and freshwater algae. When startled, these alert turtles plunge into deep water, using powerful webbed feet to vanish beneath the river current.
AquaticBaskingEndemic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic plants
- Algae
- Eelgrass
Predators
- American Alligators
- Raccoons
- Large predatory fish
ThreatsDam construction, river pollution, and road mortality
HabitatsSpring-fed rivers, clear streams, and reservoirs
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEmydidae
- SpeciesPseudemys texana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a painful bite if cornered or handled; observe safely from the bank.
Responsible observation
- Binocular Viewing: Scan fallen logs and riverbanks on sunny mornings to spot them basking without causing them to dive.
- Nesting Season Caution: Watch for nesting females crossing roads near river corridors between April and July.
- Maintain Distance: Avoid approaching basking spots too closely by boat or foot, as turtles quickly flee at sudden motion.
Frequent Companion (c) Laurent Lebois ©, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative (c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sam Kieschnick · cc-by
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