Red-eared slider
Recognise!
The Red-eared slider is 30 cm in length and weighs around 2.5 kg. Trachemys scripta elegans has red temples, an brown to olive green oval carapace and a yellow ventral carapace (plastron). It has flattened feet with claws that are webbed to help them swim.
Did you know?
The Pond slider is a freshwater turtle that has been traded massively for years, several thousands have been sold each year in Europe. Its trade is now regulated throughout the European Union. Originally, from the eastern part of the North American continent, it prefers wetlands and aquatic habitats. Appreciated by families as a small "pet", this turtle can grow up to 28cm and weigh 3kg, which has led to a release of many animals into the wild. It is not surprising to see it exposed to the sun near a stream. In addition to harming local fauna and flora, it is very voracious and consumes not only aquatic plants, but also amphibians, gastropods, etc. It can also be a source of human infection because of salmonella.
Especially two subspecies of this turtle can be observed in Europe, the Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans, photo) and the Yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) .
