Pond slider

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Pond slider
Trachymys scripta elegans, the red-eared slider
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Testudines
Family: Emydidae
Subfamily: Deirochelyinae
Genus: Trachemys
Species: T. scripta
Binomial name
Trachemys scripta
(Thunberg, 1792),[2] (Schoepff, 1792)[3]

Trachemys scripta, better known as the pond slider, is a common, medium-sized semi-aquatic turtle. There are three subspecies of sliders.[2] The most recognizable subspecies is the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade. This subspecies has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild. Slider hatchlings have a green shell (carapace) and skin with yellow green and dark green striped markings. Markings and colors fade in adults to a muted olive green color. Some individuals become almost black with few visible markings. The carapace is oval and flattened. The underside of the shell is yellow with dark markings in the center of each scute.

Distribution

The pond sliders are native to the US and Mexico

Subspecies

Hybrid

  • Trachemys scripta elegans x Trachemys scripta scripta - Red-eared slider x yellow-bellied slider[4]

References

  1. Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Trachemys scripta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved March 4, 2010. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Rhodin 2010, p. 000.103
  3. Fritz 2007, pp. 207-208
  4. Trachemys scripta elegans X Trachemys scripta scripta Project Noah
Bibliography

External links

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