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Missouri River Cooters

Missouri River Cooters

Missouri River Cooters
   
 

Pseudemys concinna metteri

Cooters are "basking" turtles. When it's not too warm or cold, they climb out of the river to bask in the sun. You'll see them from a distance in groups on logs and rocks. They plop back in as soon as they see you coming. These Missouri River Cooters look like "kissing" turtles.

Size: Females to 13.25"
Notice:
•Shell with circular lines within circles and boxes.
•Yellow and black stripes on head, neck, leg.

  Plastron (lower shell) of Missouri River Cooter, found along Bryant Creek.
This is the Web site of the Bryant Watershed Education Project, based in West Plains, Missouri. Our site is a toolkit for exploring the Bryant Creek, North Fork, Eleven Point and Upper Spring watersheds in the southern Missouri Ozarks.
Learn more.