Turtles on Herpeton Academy

Common Musk Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Sternotherus odoratus is the common musk turtle. The older combination Kinosternon odoratum may appear in older references.

English common names used in the hobby:

Common musk turtle
Stinkpot turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Gewöhnliche Moschusschildkröte
Stinktopf-Moschusschildkröte

📌 Description

The common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) is a small bottom-walking turtle that often prefers cover over constant open swimming. Adults reach about 10-14 cm and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Eastern River Cooter

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Pseudemys concinna concinna is the nominate subspecies of Pseudemys concinna. Many sources discuss it simply as Pseudemys concinna.

English common names used in the hobby:

Eastern river cooter
River cooter

German common names used in the hobby:

Flussschmuckschildkröte
Hieroglyphen-Schmuckschildkröte

📌 Description

The eastern river cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna) is a large, active river turtle that needs powerful filtration and much more space than a beginner aquarium. Adults reach about 25-40 cm, with females usually larger and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Florida Red-Bellied Cooter

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Pseudemys nelsoni is the Florida red-bellied cooter. It is often traded under broad cooter or red-bellied turtle names, so Latin-name identification matters.

English common names used in the hobby:

Florida red-bellied cooter
Florida redbelly turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Florida-Rotbauch-Schmuckschildkröte

📌 Description

The florida red-bellied cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni) is a large, strong basking turtle that quickly outgrows small aquariums. Adults reach about 25-37 cm, with females usually larger and may live 30 years or more with good long-term care.

Mississippi Map Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Graptemys kohnii is treated here as the Mississippi map turtle. Many references discuss it as Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii rather than a full species.

English common names used in the hobby:

Mississippi map turtle
False map turtle (Mississippi form)

German common names used in the hobby:

Mississippi-Höckerschildkröte
Mississippi-Landkarten-Höckerschildkröte

📌 Description

The mississippi map turtle (Graptemys kohnii) is an active basking turtle that is sensitive to poor water quality and cramped aquariums. Adults reach about males about 9-13 cm, females often 15-25 cm and may live 25 years or more with good long-term care.

Red-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Emydura subglobosa is the accepted spelling for the red-bellied short-necked turtle. The misspelling Emydura sublobosa is sometimes seen in trade.

English common names used in the hobby:

Red-bellied short-necked turtle
Pink-bellied side-necked turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Rotbauch-Spitzkopfschildkröte
Rotbauch-Kurzhalsschildkröte

📌 Description

The red-bellied short-necked turtle (Emydura subglobosa) is a tropical aquatic side-necked turtle that needs warm clean water all year. Adults reach about 20-26 cm and may live 25 years or more with good long-term care.

Reeves's Turtle

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

🔤 Taxonomy

Mauremys reevesii is the current name for Reeves’s turtle. Chinemys reevesii is a common older combination in books and trade lists.

English common names used in the hobby:

Reeves’s turtle
Chinese three-keeled pond turtle

German common names used in the hobby:

Chinesische Dreikielschildkröte
Reeves-Schildkröte

📌 Description

The reeves’s turtle (Mauremys reevesii) is a hardy but messy semi-aquatic turtle that needs clean water and a secure basking site. Adults reach about 15-23 cm and may live 20-30 years or more with good long-term care.