Jamaican slider

The Jamaican slider (Trachemys terrapen) also known as the Cat island slider is a species of fresh water turtle in the Emydidae family. It is found in the Bahamas and Jamaica. As it is not currently found on any of the other surrounding islands in the region it is assumed that the Jamaican slider was introduced from one of these countries to the other. Even though the popular theory was that these turtles originated from Jamaica, current geological evidence may suggest that they were in the Bahamas long before the native Indians first went to the Bahama islands. There is also evidence from archeological sites on San Salvador that the native Indians ate these turtles and transplanted them around the West Indies.^[1]

Description

Jamaican sliders are freshwater turtles of moderate size. Males average at 200 millimetres (7.9 in) carapace length (CL) and females are larger at 270 millimetres (11 in) CL. The adults are a dark brown to olive colour with very faint markings. The juveniles are more clearlry marked and these markings apparently disappear within the first three years. ^[2]

Diet

Typical omnivores, feeding on a variety of fruits particularly Pond-apple (Annona glabra) and other vegetation, small fish, snails, frogs, aquatic invertebrates, carrion and may even attack young birds if left defenseless.^[2] However, fecal samples have shown that aquatic algae form the bulk of their diet.^[3]

Habitat

These are fresh water turtles, inhabiting most fresh to brackish wetlands throughout out their range. This includes swamps, streams and ponds, even ephemeral or temporary ponds.

Distribution

The Jamaican slider is found in many different areas on the island of Jamaica and on a few islands in the Bahamas. In the Bahamas about 60% of its population can be found on Cat Island (which is why it is known as the Cat island slider in the Bahamas) and smaller populations can also be found on the islands of Eleuthera, Andros Island, Exumas and New Providence.^[2] However, the population on New Providence (and nearby Paradise Island) and Exuma^[4] is a hybrid between the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans and the Inagua Slider T. stejnegeri malonei from Great Inagua.

Reproduction

Breeding season in Jamaican stocks can run from February to September. The Bahamian stocks may have a more limited or reduced breeding season due to the limited availability of freshwater. Clutch size has been observed from both countries to be 3-8 eggs and the turtles can lay 3-4 clutches per year. The last clutch is always smaller in size than the first. ^[2]

Uses

These turtles were consumed by the Amerindians that lived in these regions. It is known that they are also eaten in the Bahamas, though this practice is declining; and probably in Jamaica also. On islands such as Cat Island these turtles have also been kept as pets typically in wells and are referred to affectionately on that island as "Peter".^[5]

Status and Conservation

The Jamaican slider is listed as Vulnerable in the 2007 IUCN Red List but is not currently listed under CITES. The populations in both Jamaica and the Bahamas are largely effected by introduced predators to those islands. These include dogs, cats, raccoons, rats, pigs and mongooses. In the Bahamas, habitat loss is an ever increasing threat to the Jamaican Slider and this includes Cat Island. On many islands in the Bahamas fresh water is relatively scarce and therefore the contamination of fresh water ponds with salt water particularly after hurricanes, has a devastating effect. However in the Bahamas, the biggest cause for concern is the continued importation of the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans for the pet trade. They are very popular as pets in the Bahamas but once the animal has out grown its welcome they are released into nearby ponds. The island of New Providence, and nearby Paradise Island, have very diluted stocks and this is possibly true for some of the other islands also. It is known however, that the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans has not been released onto Cat Island to date. ^[1]

Source

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.tortoisereserve.org/researchandconservation/Bahaman_Turtles_Body2.html
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Schwartz, A and R. W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies. Descriptions, distributions and natural history. University of Florida Press. Gainsville, US.
3. ^ Ross, J. P. 1981. Cat Island Turtle Project. Final report of scientific project to Animal resources center New York Zoological Society.
4. ^ Franz, R., K. Dodd and D. W. Buden (1993). Caribbean Journal of Science, 29(3-4) 165-173
5. ^ Campbell, D. G. (1981) The Ephemeral Islands: A Natural History of the Bahamas. Macmillan Education LTD, London and Basingstoke.

• Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Trachemys terrapen. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 29 July 2007.
• Bahamas National Trust
• Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Center