Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

The range of Pseudemys rubriventris spans the Mid-Atlantic coastal waters of the USA from New Jersey to North Carolina. This includes areas east to the Potomac River and west to W. Virginia. There is a disjunctive population of eastern red-bellied turtles in Massachusetts, as well as a small, introduced population in Long Island, New York. ("Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001)

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic
  • native

Habitat

Eastern red-bellied turtles inhabit large freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and creeks. Most of these waters are fast moving, deep-bodied, and contain a muddy bottom where the water depth ranges from 2-3.5 m. Occasionally, P. rubriventris are found in brackish water at the mouths of rivers. They surround themselves with aquatic vegetation, rocks, and logs for basking in the sun. Eastern red-bellied turtles become terrestrial for short periods of time while laying eggs in June or July. They show little evidence of migration and often occupy the same habitat year-round. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst, et al., 1994)

• Habitat Regions
• temperate
• terrestrial
• freshwater

• Terrestrial Biomes
• savanna or grassland

• Aquatic Biomes
• lakes and ponds
• rivers and streams
• brackish water

• Other Habitat Features
• suburban
• riparian
• estuarine

• Range depth

  2 to 3.5 m

  6.56 to 11.48 ft

Physical Description

The carapaces of adult red-bellied turtles are on average 26 to 32 cm in length. The carapace is a mahogany black color with red lines running dorso-ventrally. They have a serrated front upper-jaw. The head is brown and arrow-shaped with a yellow line that extends between the eyes and snout. A series of consecutive thick and thin yellow bands come off the anterior of the eye and travel laterally down the neck. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism. The plastrons of male red-bellied turtles are light pink. They have long, straight claws on their feet and an anal opening that extends beyond the shell. The females are larger than the males with brighter red plastrons containing gray borders. The hatchlings of P. rubriventris have an orange plastron and a green carapace covered with light green markings. The skin is light green as well. A possible subspecies, P. rubriventris bangsi of Massachusetts, has a greater height (by 2.4 times) due to a more domed carapace. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst, et al., 1994)

• Other Physical Features
• ectothermic
• heterothermic
• bilateral symmetry
• polymorphic

• Sexual Dimorphism
• female larger
• sexes colored or patterned differently
• ornamentation

• Range mass

  3900 (high) g

  137.44 (high) oz

• Range length

  40 (high) cm

  15.75 (high) in

Development

Psuedemys rubriventris lay eggs under 10 cm of sand. The young emerge as hatchlings after 73 to 80 days and quickly make their way to the nearest water source, where they will develop into adults. Hatchlings are typically between 29 and 36 mm in plastron length. Eastern red-bellied turtles reach sexual maturity after 5 to 9 years. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst, et al., 1994)

Reproduction

The mating of P. rubriventris has never been observed. Scientists know mating does occur in shallow water in the fall or spring. With regards to a closely related species, Pseudemys concinna, the male pursues the female and sniffs her tail after the female releases a pheromone. In the following mating ritual, he then swims above and in front of her in the water and rapidly strokes her face with his claws. If a female P. concinna accepts his advances, the male then swims behind the female, mounting her for copulation. ("Pseudemys concinna", 1999; "Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; Ernst and Barbour, 1989)

• Mating System
• polygynous

Female eastern red-bellied turtles dig a nest cavity 10 cm wide by 10 cm deep in the sand in early June or July. This nest cavity is found in a well-insulated area 90 m from the water, and 1 m above pond level. Pseudemys rubriventris produce one clutch of eggs yearly containing 8 to 22 eggs. Hatching occurs in 73 to 80 days. The hatchlings emerge from August to October. If late nesting occurs, hatchlings do not emerge before the winter. Eggs incubated on natural sand are larger and have a better chance of survival than eggs incubated in artificial settings. Due to the loss of natural habitats, female red-bellied turtles sometimes lay eggs in homeowner's yards. Females try to return to the same nesting sights every year. ("Pseudemys rubriventris Study", 2003; "Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst and Barbour, 1989)

• Key Reproductive Features
• seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• fertilization
• oviparous

• Breeding interval

  Once yearly

• Breeding season

  Egg laying occurs in June-July

• Range number of offspring

  8 to 22

• Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

  5 to 7 years

• Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)

  9 years

Female P. rubriventris provide no parental care once they lay their eggs and cover the nest. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996)

• Parental Investment
• pre-fertilization
  • provisioning
  • protecting
    • female
• pre-hatching/birth

Lifespan/Longevity

The lifespan of P. rubriventris ranges from 40 to 55 years. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001)

• Typical lifespan
  Status: wild

  40 to 55 years

Behavior

Red-bellied turtles are diurnal reptiles, spending most of their days basking on logs and swimming. They are most active from April to October. During winter, when water is covered with ice, Pseudemys rubriventris hibernate in the mud at the bottom of rivers. Red-bellied turtles are not territorial. They are shy and wary of humans and predators and swim rapidly and bury themselves in the mud when scared. Numerous individuals frequently inhabit the same rocks or logs while sunbathing. However, aggression over basking spots between P. rubriventris and Chrysemys picta has been observed. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst, et al., 1994)

• Key Behaviors
• natatorial
• diurnal
• motile
• sedentary
• hibernation
• solitary

Communication and Perception

There is little known communication among P. rubriventris. They frequent the same rocks and logs while sunbathing and often sit on top of each other. Regarding Pseudemys concinna, a closely related species, females communicate by the emission of pheromones and males by tactile contact and a mating dance. ("Pseudemys concinna", 1999; "Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996)

• Communication Channels
• visual
• tactile
• chemical

• Other Communication Modes
• pheromones

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

Food Habits

Red-bellied turtles primarily eat aquatic vegetation and algae such as Myriophyllum, Utricularia, and Sagittaria. Secondary food sources include crayfish, snails, fish, and tadpoles. Juveniles are herbivorous and adults are omnivorous. Laboratory hatchlings can be fed brine shrimp ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst and Barbour, 1989)

• Primary Diet
• herbivore
  • algivore
• omnivore

• Animal Foods
• amphibians
• fish
• insects
• mollusks
• aquatic crustaceans

• Plant Foods
• leaves
• algae
• macroalgae

Predation

Common predators of P. rubriventris include raccoons, skunks, crows, herons, and bullfrogs. Lawn mowers frequently kill turtles resting in grass. Housing developments around rivers and ponds result in loss of nesting sights. Crows, rats, and mice eat the hatchlings and eggs. Red-bellied turtles escape predators by burying themselves in the mud, swimming aggressively, or by withdrawing into their shells. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001)

• Known Predators

  • raccoons (Procyon lotor)
  • skunks (Mephitinae)
  • crows (Corvus)
  • herons (Ardeidae)
  • bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)
  • rats (Rattus)
  • deer mice and white-footed mice (Peromyscus)

Ecosystem Roles

Eastern red-bellied turtles act as both predator and prey. Their prey include crayfish, snails, fish, and tadpoles. Predators of P. rubriventris include bullfrogs, skunks, raccoons, wading birds, crows, and mice. Eastern redbelly turtles play an important role in the middle of the food chain. They also are responsible for controlling the population of hyacinth, an invasive plant. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001; Ernst and Barbour, 1989)

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Red-bellied turtles were economically important to humans in the colonial times as a source of food and trade. Today, their shells make decorative art. Doctors have an interest in the workings of the turtles' hearts and have performed operations recorded in scientific journals. Red-bellied turtles also help control the population of hyacinth, an invasive aquatic plant. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996; "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model", 2001)

• Positive Impacts
• food
• body parts are source of valuable material
• research and education
• controls pest population

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known adverse effects of P. rubriventris on humans. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996)

Conservation Status

Red-bellied turtles are considered endangered according to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The subspecies P. rubriventris bangsi is considered threatened by the Lacey Act. This makes it illegal to import, export, transport, sell, or buy any part of the animal, dead or alive. The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for maintaining water treatment plants that do not harm the turtles. Main causes of endangerment include expanding housing developments and a loss of nesting sights, pollutants, pesticides, and predation on eggs and hatchlings. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enacted a plan in 1985 to protect existing populations, to prevent hunting of the turtles, to collect eggs to hatch in captivity, and to educate the local public on the turtles. ("Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth", 1996)

• IUCN Red List

  Lower Risk - Near Threatened
  More information

• IUCN Red List

  Lower Risk - Near Threatened
  More information

• US Federal List

  Threatened

• CITES

  No special status

Other Comments

There is a dispute over the correct genus of the eastern redbelly turtle. Some choose to use Pseudemys while others use Chrysemys. Oftentimes, Chrysemys is used only for painted turtles.

Contributors

David Armitage (editor), Animal Diversity Web.

Matthew Wund (editor), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

Kelly Clark (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Phil Myers (editor), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

"Eastern Redbelly Turtle" (On-line ). eNature. Accessed 03/19/03 at http://www.enature.com.

2001. "Plymouth Rebelly Turtle Habitat Model" (On-line). USFWS Gulf of Maine Watershed Habitat Analysis. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://r5gomp.fws.gov/gom/habitatstudy/metadata/GOM_GIS_Data_Table.htm.

2004. "Pseudemys Rubriventris" (On-line). NatureServe Explorer. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/.

1999. "Pseudemys concinna" (On-line image). Accessed April 06, 2003 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html.

2003. "Pseudemys rubriventris Study" (On-line). Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary. Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://www.jugbay.org.

1996. "Species Turtle, Red-bellied, Plymouth" (On-line). Accessed March 19, 2003 at http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/WWW/esis/lists/e155001.htm.

Browne, R., A. Haskell, C. Griffin, J. Ridgeway. 1996. Genetic variations among populations of the redbelly turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris). Copeia, 1: 192-195.

Ernst, C., R. Barbour. 1989. Turtles of the World. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.

Ernst, C., J. Lovich, R. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press.