Pond slider

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Pond slider
Red-eared Slider Thailand.JPG
Trachemys scripta elegans, the red-eared slider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Trachemys
Species:
T. scripta
Binomial name
Trachemys scripta
(Thunberg and Schoepff, 1792) [3] [2] [4]
Trachemys scripta range.svg
Subspecies native range map in the United States. Current subspecies ranges include non-native, introduced areas and may be considered as invasive.
   red-eared slider (also in Mexico)

The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) is a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle. Three subspecies are described, [2] the most recognizable of which is the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade and has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild. Hatchling and juvenile pond sliders have a green upper shell (carapace), yellow bottom shell (plastron), and green and yellow stripes and markings on their skin. These patterns and colors in the skin and shell fade with age until the carapace is a muted olive green to brown and the plastron is a dull yellow or darker. Some sliders become almost black with few visible markings. The carapace is oval with a bit of rounding and a central crest with knobs, but these features soften and fade with age, adults being smoother and flatter. For determining an adult slider's sex, males typically have much longer front claws than adult females, while females usually have shorter, more slender tails than males. Their lifespans range from 20 to 50 years.

Contents

Etymology

The origin of the name slider stems from the behavior of these turtles when startled. Groups of sliders, sometimes quite large, as well as many other types of less abundant freshwater turtles, are often seen basking and sunning on logs, branches, and vegetation at or even well above the water's surface, but they readily and quickly scramble if they sense danger, shooting back in and darting away to safety underwater.

Distribution

Pond sliders are native to the south-central and southeastern United States and northern Mexico.

Subspecies

ImageSubspeciesDistribution
Yellow-bellied Slider.jpg T. s. scriptayellow-bellied slider [2] from Florida to southeastern Virginia
Blagdon MMB 01 Water Gardens.jpg T. s. elegansred-eared slider [2] Midwestern United States to northern Mexico
Cumberland-Schmuckschildkrote-006.jpg T. s. troostiiCumberland slider [2] Southeastern United States.

Invasive species

An adult and young T. s. elegans with a young T. s. scripta in New York, USA, where they are invasive species Pond sliders in Prospect Park (03861).jpg
An adult and young T. s. elegans with a young T. s. scripta in New York, USA, where they are invasive species
Red-eared slider in Tokyo
A specimen of T. s. scripta with its eggs (Italy) Trachemys scripta eggs 01.jpg
A specimen of T. s. scripta with its eggs (Italy)

In the 1900s, many pond sliders were captured for sale. In the 1950s, millions of turtles were being farmed and shipped abroad as part of the pet trade.

These turtles often compete with native species for food, habitat, and other resources. Eventually, they bully many native species out of basking sites, where sunlight (and warmth) is available for the species. When basking, pond sliders commonly bask on birds' nests, thereby killing the eggs. They also prey on young birds.

Turtles that were raised in captivity can develop diseases that are unfamiliar to native species, which can be harmful. Turtles raised in captivity are often released because they become too much to handle or grow bigger than expected. Not uncommonly, they also escape.

Conservationists have warned owners not to release these turtles into the wild. Many states also have passed legislation to control the possession and release of pond sliders. Two states have banned their sale entirely.

In Europe, T. scripta is included since 2016 in the list of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (the Union list). [5] This implies that this species cannot be imported, bred, transported, commercialized, or intentionally released into the environment in the whole of the European Union. [6] By the first quarter of the 21st century, this species has spread widely across the waters of Europe and Southeast Asia, and is also found in the Urals and Siberia. [7]

Hybridization between yellow-bellied and red-eared sliders is not uncommon where the ranges of the two subspecies overlap. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-eared slider</span> Subspecies of turtle

The red-eared slider or red-eared terrapin is a subspecies of the pond slider, a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States, is also popular as a pet across the rest of the world, and is the most invasive turtle. It is the most commonly traded turtle in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emydidae</span> Family of turtles

Emydidae is a family of testudines (turtles) that includes close to 50 species in 10 genera. Members of this family are commonly called terrapins, pond turtles, or marsh turtles. Several species of Asian box turtles were formerly classified in the family; however, revised taxonomy has separated them to a different family (Geoemydidae). As currently defined, the Emydidae are entirely a Western Hemisphere family, with the exception of two species of pond turtle.

<i>Trachemys</i> Genus of turtles

Trachemys is a genus of turtles belonging to the family Emydidae. Members of this genus are native to the Americas, ranging from the Midwestern United States south to northern Argentina, but one subspecies, the red-eared slider, has been introduced worldwide. Species under this genus are commonly referred to as sliders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Razor-backed musk turtle</span> Species of turtle

The razor-backed musk turtle is a species of turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is native to the southern United States. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

The western pond turtle, also known commonly as the Pacific pond turtle is a species of small to medium-sized turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the western coast of the United States and Mexico, ranging from western Washington state to northern Baja California. It was formerly found in Canada, but in May 2002, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listed the Pacific pond turtle as being extirpated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland slider</span> Subspecies of turtle

The Cumberland slider, also called commonly the Cumberland turtle and Troost's turtle, is a subspecies of pond slider, a semiaquatic turtle in the family Emydidae. The subspecies is indigenous to the Southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese pond turtle</span> Species of turtle

Mauremys reevesii, commonly known as the Chinese pond turtle, the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle, or Reeves' turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae, a family which was formerly called Bataguridae. The species is native to East Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern red-bellied cooter</span> Species of turtle

The northern red-bellied turtle or American red-bellied turtle is a species of turtle in the Pseudemys (cooter) genus of the family Emydidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaican slider</span> Species of turtle

The Jamaican slider, also known as the Cat Island slider, is a species of fresh water turtle in the family Emydidae. 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 Taíno first went to the Bahamian islands. There is also evidence from archeological sites on San Salvador that the Taíno ate these turtles and transplanted them around the West Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern map turtle</span> Species of turtle

The northern map turtle, also known as the common map turtle, is an aquatic turtle in the family Emydidae. It is endemic to North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrapin</span> Index of animals with the same common name

Terrapins are a group of several species of small turtle living in fresh or brackish water. Terrapins do not form a taxonomic unit and may not be closely related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yilan River</span> River in Yilan County, Taiwan

The Yilan River (Chinese: 宜蘭河; pinyin: Yílán Hé; Wade–Giles: I2-lan2 Ho2) is a tributary of the Lanyang River in Yilan County, northeast Taiwan. It flows through Yilan for 25 kilometers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-bellied slider</span> Subspecies of turtle

The yellow-bellied slider is a subspecies of the pond slider, a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is native to the southeastern United States, specifically from Florida to southeastern Virginia, and is the most common turtle species in its range. It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including slow-moving rivers, floodplain swamps, marshes, seasonal wetlands, and permanent ponds. Yellow-bellied sliders are popular as pets. They are a model organism for population studies due to their high population densities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">False map turtle</span> Species of turtle

The false map turtle is a species of turtle endemic to the United States. It is a common pet species. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies described here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Orbigny's slider</span> Species of turtle

D'Orbigny's slider or the black-bellied slider, commonly known in Brazil as tartaruga-tigre or tartaruga-tigre-d'água, is a species of water turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is found in southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay. Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, Trachemys dorbigni adiutrix and Trachemys dorbigni brasiliensis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turtle farming</span> Practice of raising turtles commercially

Turtle farming is the practice of raising turtles and tortoises of various species commercially. Raised animals are sold for use as gourmet food, traditional medicine ingredients, or as pets. Some farms also sell young animals to other farms, either as breeding stock, or more commonly to be raised there to a larger size for subsequent resale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicaraguan slider</span> Species of turtle

The Nicaraguan slider is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is indigenous to Nicaragua and Costa Rica.

<i>Trachemys callirostris</i> Species of turtle

Trachemys callirostris is a turtle in the family Emydidae found in Colombia and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider</span> Intergradation of two turtle subspecies

The red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider is an intergradation of a red-eared slider and yellow-bellied slider subspecies. Intergrade facial markings range from a yellow blotch behind each eye, which may join a yellow neck stripe forming a “C” figure when viewed from the left side to those with an almost indistinguishable amount of red in the eye blotch, to individuals that look similar to red-eared sliders with a red “ear” stripe that doesn’t join with a yellow neck stripe. In addition, the number of black blotches on the plastron varies in intergrades from two on the front scutes which is typical of yellow-bellied sliders, to a dark blotch on each scute which is typical of red-eared sliders. Intergrades are presumed to be omnivorous, but hatchlings and juveniles are more carnivorous than adults.

References

  1. van Dijk, P.P.; Harding, J. & Hammerson, G.A. (2016) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Trachemys scripta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T22028A97429935. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T22028A9347395.en . Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the World 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Conservation Status" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-12-15.
  3. First described by Carl Peter Thunberg, and published in:
    Ioannis Davidis Schoepff (1792). Historia Testudinum Iconibus Illustrata. Published in Erlangen, by Ioannis Iacobi Palm. p. 16-17.
  4. Fritz 2007, pp. 207–208
  5. "List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern - Environment - European Commission". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  6. "REGULATION (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species".
  7. Reshetnikov et al., 2023. "Rarely naturalized, but widespread and even invasive: the paradox of a popular pet terrapin expansion in Eurasia". NeoBiota 81: 91-127 https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.81.90473 (24 Jan 2023).
  8. Trachemys scripta elegans × Trachemys scripta scripta Project Noah

Further reading