REPTILES 



237 



C. p. picla (Schneider) (Fig. 136). Plastron yellow; vertebrals 

 nearly in same transverse line as costals: eastern States from New 

 Brunswick to Georgia; very common. 



Fig. 136. — Chrysemys p. picta {from Fowler). 



7. Pseudemys Gray. Sliders; cooters. Carapace moderately 

 depressed, with a serrate hinder margin; plastron notched behind; 

 upper jaw notched in front; head covered with a hard skin: 10 species. 



Key to the Species of Pseudemys 



ai Edges of jaws smooth, a black spot on each plastral scute. 



bi A yellow patch back of eye; Atlantic States P. scripta. 



ho A red line back of eye, or no marking; Mississippi drainage. . . .P. troostii. 

 3.2 Edge of lower jaw serrate; no black spot on each plastral plate. 



bi Upper jaw smooth P. concinna. 



bo Upper jaw serrate, at least with central notch and lateral cusp. 



Ci Plastron red; Atlantic coastal plain P. rubriventris. 



Co Plastron yellow; Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley. 



di In central Florida P. floridana. 



do In Gulf coast region P. mobilensis. 



ds From Missouri to Mexico P. texana. 



P. troostii (Holbrook) (P. elegans Wied). Carapace greenish 

 black, with darker blotches; under surface of marginals and plastron 

 yellow, with black blotches; adult males {P. troostii) without markings; 

 females and young (P. elegans) with a red mark back of eye, yellow 

 lines on head and neck and yellow marks on carapace; edges of both 

 jaws smooth; length of carapace 250 mm.; width 180 mm.: Mississippi 

 Valley; northward to Iowa and Ohio; south to Texas; common; used 

 for food. 



P. scripta (Schoepff). Carapace dark brown in color, with dull 

 yellow transverse stripes; plastron yellow; length of carapace 250 mm.; 



