Been seeing this guy around my yard for about a month now, what kind of turtle is he?

Sidneyw92

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I know he is not a wood turtle, box turtle, or gopher tortoise but I can’t determine what he is extremely curious to know! He’s about 9-11 inches long and pretty wide, and I live in North Georgia near the Atlanta metro.

C58D0431-406A-4AD0-8D05-1A8D83F0F012.png
 
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Maro2Bear

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Interesting. High dome, not much in the way of coloration. Hhmmmmm.


Where‘s Inspector Closeau when we need him (Or her)?
 

Tom

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I know he is not a wood turtle, box turtle, or gopher tortoise but I can’t determine what he is extremely curious to know! He’s about 9-11 inches long and pretty wide, and I live in North Georgia near the Atlanta metro.
@mark1
@Markw84

Are both pretty good with turtle ID.
 

Markw84

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Can't be 100% sure from just that picture. However, it looks like a melanistic male slider - probably a Yellow-bellied or Red-Ear. Trachemys script scripta or P s elegans. The higher dome would lead me to believe Yellow-Bellied - P s scripta

In your area it could be a RIver Cooter, Pseudemys concinna - but the head looks more Slider and cooters don't get melanistic like that. Also looks like some very faded vertical stripes on the costals - and that would definitely be slider.
 

Maro2Bear

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Can't be 100% sure from just that picture. However, it looks like a melanistic male slider - probably a Yellow-bellied or Red-Ear. Trachemys script scripta or P s elegans. The higher dome would lead me to believe Yellow-Bellied - P s scripta

In your area it could be a RIver Cooter, Pseudemys concinna - but the head looks more Slider and cooters don't get melanistic like that. Also looks like some very faded vertical stripes on the costals - and that would definitely be slider.

Then a pretty old Slider for sure. 👍
 

Yvonne G

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At any rate, It's a water turtle and they can only eat in water. Is there a water feature nearby?. . . pond, creek, bay, etc?
 

zovick

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I know he is not a wood turtle, box turtle, or gopher tortoise but I can’t determine what he is extremely curious to know! He’s about 9-11 inches long and pretty wide, and I live in North Georgia near the Atlanta metro.

View attachment 344899
Looks like a female River Cooter. She has quite possibly been searching the area for a good nesting spot in this dry weather we've been having.
 

JTH

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That's definitely a Yellow-bellied Slider; the lengthwise grooves on the carapace are diagnostic. Does look somewhat melanistic, though the head pattern is hidden. Needs to be released near water (pond, marsh, etc.)
 

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