I have never had much contact with turtles and I find them fascinating. So, when I do see one I get quite excited. While in Florida in January I saw turtles on two occasions. I saw several turtles in the Orlando Wetlands Park basking on logs out of the water and I saw several more at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland in a swamp, partially in and partially out of the water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1s1jXJe1tNMaIpsBtNkaAfX3w9hpHciubeglEKZzpZsyar5NGNRG4FL3_xXXTsYBMed_pGz8nSuSTr_1D3VFE3f44xlPD9x7i3kC9Ryn-TqbadVqsMi8YALAbbfKvPCwMId_NnPnppM/s400/20a+turtle+-+Orlando.jpg) |
I'm not certain that this is a Florida red-bellied turtle. It could possibly be a peninsula cooter. I don't have the right angle to see whether it has a notched bill. But it has red streaks in the upper carapice which may or may not be an indicator. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzPn1VhlJ3gxCm0l2Lmg0p4f9Jbt7j_E3Q1iBZcUxjH0RMS4jiUg1PzHVdLm9FaSlsjOihw0Uo7S7Toeb1QKYQ6tCNdHsUbnn7EV2lOYZfLVGsVVApJfiRpbpmsYhUDXUvl5-akJ0RqU/s400/21a1+turtle.jpg) |
This turtle, near, but different from the one above, has a reddish plastron and basks on a log. |
The Florida red-bellied cooter, or Florida red-bellied turtle, is found in Florida and southern Georgia. It is distinguished from similar turtles by its red-tinged plastron (belly) and two cusps (like teeth) on its upper beak.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5zUEgi5W4L2kF4lzLrrgTCL96b_-vpciY5QErKXQQlwXXwDaCbjrUzJKjhi6MJ3b91wVmy8Eqeg8Wv0ORkli1ety0qagBP24FcZOrKHb4RWTC_nt6fekUqjEYId8txR55mQ4u6JLAPY/s400/10b+turtle.jpg) |
This turtle at the Circle B Bar Reserve has a "u" on its beak created by two cusps, plus it has reddish color on its plastron. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWlc8FwgpZQ2Aq24jrGMX9s2G5xQSFNcH6yDgpR6oR0vPWHpjRHigEEpdsfJSTecX3BagWbMBMfJQySjM4MYk0TuwCM7CyjJiQ4Nq22N8uXXRnF8pRXwMPg-_DwsDnlOmtrQGEtu7DAE/s400/10a1+turtle.jpg) |
I saw it turn itself around rather awkwardly using its feet. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPfNXQLK6DBrFGqclJ-WugmuKZx2WJEJ3uplIBwAfd60UQtZZznLKIZqV_uf4pzFTa2HVYhh38taZ25OPo_BsGQ1sMW5acCaapMgyGIVQAV0gYSQVf40rzOs1Cxj9h5mSrJcGh7WefL8/s400/10e+turtle.jpg) |
This picture from above makes it look really dull, covered in moss and muck. |
I love that first picture of the turtle on the rock and the perfect reflection in the water.
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