Description: The carapace of P. c. suwanniensisis black in color, with yellow markings. The plastron is light orange or yellow with black markings. Adults can reach 17 inches in carapace length.

Habitat: Suwannee cooters prefer areas with flowing water, such as rivers, but will also live in other freshwater habitats. They live in shallow areas with aquatic vegetation, and when in larger numbers, they live in deeper, clear water.

Range: The species is endemic to Florida, including in the Suwannee River.

Found in these States: FL | GA

Diet: The diet of P. c. suwanniensis mainly consists of aquatic plants. In a Florida spring, diet was plant matter (algae and native and exotic vascular plants), with animal matter ingested incidently or as carrion

Reproduction: Nesting occurs from late March to early August in northern Florida, begins generally in late May or June in the north. Clutch size averages usually between 12 and 20. Individual females may lay multiple clutches each season. Eggs hatch in late summer or early fall. Hatchlings sometimes overwinter in the nest; these generally emerge in early spring

Status: P. c. suwanniensis was hunted for its meat, but is now protected.

Taxonomy: