African Sulcata Tortoise

Scientific Name: Centrochelys sulcata

Environment: Arid deserts and savannahs of Sub-Saharan Africa

Diet: Grasses, weeds, and hay (strict herbivore)

Conservation Status: Vulnerable (IUCN)

Fun Fact: They are the third-largest tortoise species in the world and can live over 70 years.

Red-Eared Slider Turtle

Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans

Environment: Freshwater ponds, lakes, marshes with basking spots

Diet: Omnivorous – aquatic plants, insects, small fish, and pellets

Conservation Status: Invasive in many regions

Fun Fact: Named for the distinctive red stripe behind each eye.

Florida Red-Bellied Cooter

Scientific Name: Pseudemys nelsoni

Environment: Freshwater ponds, lakes, and slow rivers with abundant vegetation (native to Florida)

Diet: Primarily herbivorous – aquatic plants, algae, leafy greens

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Fun Fact: Females sometimes lay eggs in alligator nests, using the gators’ protection as an advantage.

Eastern Box Turtle

Name: Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Environment: Deciduous forests, wetlands, and grassy meadows

Diet: Omnivorous – mushrooms, berries, insects, worms, and flowers

Conservation Status: Vulnerable in some states due to habitat loss and road mortality

Fun Fact: They can live over 50 years in the wild!

Peninsula Cooter

Scientific Name: Pseudemys peninsularis

Environment: Freshwater rivers, springs, and marshes of Florida

Diet: Primarily herbivorous – aquatic plants, algae

Conservation Status: Not Evaluated

Fun Fact: They bask communally and can often be seen stacked on logs.

Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle

Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta scripta

Environment: Slow-moving rivers, swamps, and ponds

Diet: Omnivorous – aquatic vegetation, insects, crustaceans

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Fun Fact: They are strong swimmers and can live up to 40 years.

Russian Tortoise

Scientific Name: Testudo horsfieldii

Environment: Dry, rocky hillsides and grassy deserts

Diet: Broad-leafed greens, flowers, and occasional fruits

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Fun Fact: They hibernate in burrows during extreme cold and can survive temperature extremes.