Yellow-bellied slider

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Yellow-bellied slider
Trachemys Scripta Scripta (Tortuga de Orejas Amarillas).jpg
Female yellow-bellied slider
Status TNC T5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
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
Subspecies:
T. s. scripta
Trinomial name
Trachemys scripta scripta
(Thunberg in Schoepff, 1792) [2]
Trachemys scripta range.svg
The ranges of the three subspecies of pond slider. The yellow-bellied slider is in yellow.
Synonyms [3]
  • Testudo scriptaSchoepff, 1792
  • Testudo serrataDaudin, 1801
  • Emys scriptaSchweigger, 1812
  • Emys serrataSchweigger, 1812
  • Emys vittataGray, 1831
  • Terrapene serrataBonaparte, 1831
  • Clemmys (Clemmys) serrataFitzinger, 1835
  • Pseudemys serrataGray, 1856
  • Trachemys scriptaGray, 1863
  • Chrysemys scriptaBoulenger, 1889
  • Pseudemys scriptaJordan, 1899
  • Chrysemys [scripta] scriptaSiebenrock, 1909
  • Chrysemys palustris scriptaLindholm, 1929
  • Pseudemys scripta scriptaCarr, 1937
  • Chrysemys scripts scriptsZappalorti, 1976(ex errore)
  • Pseudermys scripaNutaphand, 1979(ex errore)
  • Trachemys scripta scriptaIverson, 1985

The yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) is a land and water turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. This subspecies of pond slider is native to the southeastern United States, specifically from Florida to southeastern Virginia, [4] and is the most common turtle species in its range. [5] It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including slow-moving rivers, floodplain swamps, marshes, seasonal wetlands, and permanent ponds. [6] Yellow-bellied sliders are popular as pets. They are a model organism for population studies due to their high population densities. [7]

Description

Adult male yellow-bellied sliders typically reach 5–9 inches (13–23 cm) in length; females range from 8–13 inches (20–33 cm). [8] The carapace (upper shell) is typically brown and black, often with yellow stripes. The skin is olive green with prominent patches of yellow down the neck and legs. As the name implies, the plastron (bottom shell) is mostly yellow with black spots along the edges. Adults tend to grow darker as they age. [9] [10] Yellow-bellied sliders are often confused with eastern river cooters, who also have yellow stripes on the neck and yellow undersides, but the latter lack the green spots characteristic of this species. The yellow belly often has an "s"-shaped yellow stripe on its face. They also have markings shaped like question marks on their bellies. Females of the species reach a larger body size than the males do in the same populations. [11] There have also been studies that show females of this species have more symmetrical shells than males due to either more efficient growth or less hormonal stress. [12]

The yellow plastron with green spots is visible in this view. Yellow-bellied Slider 2.jpg
The yellow plastron with green spots is visible in this view.

Distribution

Yellow-belly sliders range from southeastern Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia, northern Florida, and eastern Alabama. [13] In European countries where pond sliders are established and invasive, that they can impose threats to native biodiversity through competitive advantage over native terrapins. [14]

Reproduction

Mating can occur in spring, summer, and autumn. They have polygynandrous mating behavior. Courtship consists of biting, foreclaw display, and chasing. [15] Yellow-bellied sliders are capable of interbreeding with other T. scripta subspecies, such as red-eared sliders, which are commonly sold as pets. The release of non-native red-eared sliders into local environments caused the state of Florida to ban the sale of red-eared sliders in order to protect the native population of yellow-bellied sliders. [16]

Mating takes place in the water. Suitable terrestrial area is required for egg-laying by nesting females, who will normally lay 6–10 eggs at a time, with larger females capable of bearing more. The eggs incubate for 2–3 months and the hatchlings will usually stay with the nest through winter. Hatchlings are almost entirely carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion. As they age, adults eat less and less meat, and up to 95% of their nutritional intake eventually comes from plants. [10]

Movement

Yellow-bellied slider movement is highly instigated by dry seasons, where they can be found traveling terrestrially to locate a new water source. [17] One study also found movement is also highly motivated by reproductive recruitment. Differences between male and female movements were observed. Males were more active than females in spring to the end of autumn. Males also exhibited more terrestrial and aquatic movements than females. Finally, long periods of movements were exclusively males. [18]

Feeding behavior

The slider is considered a diurnal turtle; it feeds mainly in the morning and frequently basks on shore, on logs, or while floating, during the rest of the day. At night, it sleeps on the bottom or on the surface near brush piles. Highest densities of sliders occur where algae blooms and aquatic macrophytes are abundant and are of the type that form dense mats at the surface, such as Myriophyllum spicatum and lily pads (Nymphaeaceae). Dense surface vegetation provides cover from predators and supports high densities of aquatic invertebrates and small vertebrates, which offer better foraging than open water. [19]

Hatchlings are primarily carnivorous and feed on insects, spiders, crustaceans, and tadpoles. Adults prefer a more high-protein diet but can sustain a vegetative diet. Adult diets consist of leaves, stems, roots, fruits, larger invertebrates, small fish, tadpoles, and frogs. [20]

Predators

Some common predators of the yellow-bellied slider include raccoons, opossums, red foxes, and skunks. Other than predators, yellow-bellied sliders are susceptible to respiratory infections which can cause wheezing, drooling, or puffiness in the eyes and is commonly caused by bacteria. Additionally, these turtles can develop fungal spores that can lead to shell rot, they can also develop metabolic bone disease which can stunt the growth of their shells and cause them to be more brittle and prone to damage [21]

Lifespan

The lifespan of yellow-bellied sliders is over 30 years in the wild, [22] and over 40 years in captivity. [10]

Since yellow-bellied sliders are long-lived organisms, they require high survivorship to maintain stable populations. They are particularly susceptible to negative effects associated with anthropogenic habitat modification such as increased presence of human-subsidized predators and increased road mortality. Recruitment could also be decreased in populations in highly urbanized areas due to a decrease in habitat connectivity and potential nesting sites. [23]

As pets

Housing

Young Trachemys scripta scripta swimming in a tank

Baby yellow-bellied sliders may be kept in a fairly small tank (20 to 40 gallons), but as they age, after about three years, they will require much more space. One adult may be housed in a 75 US gal (284 L) or larger aquarium. The turtles require enough water to turn around, with a depth of 16–18 in (41–46 cm) recommended. Water temperature should be kept between 72 and 80 °F (22–27 °C) and properly filtered. [10] Keeping fish with turtles is usually avoided due to the risk that the turtle will eat the fish. Sliders need a basking area that is kept warm during the day and that will allow the turtle to move around, balance, and dry off completely. This area should average 89–95 °F (32–35 °C) and can be heated with a UV-A heat lamp. A second lamp that produces UV-B is absolutely essential for the turtle to metabolize calcium properly. Direct, unfiltered sunlight is preferable. The lamps should be switched on during daylight hours. [10]

Diet

Pond plants such as elodea (anacharisan) and cabomba can also be left in the water, while human-consumed vegetables such as romaine lettuce, escarole and collard greens must be changed daily. As sliders are omnivores, insects and freshly killed fish may also be provided for protein. Commercially processed animal-based reptile food may be given too, but any sort of leftovers should be immediately removed to prevent fouling the water or turtle's habitat. [24]

See also

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">Painted turtle</span> Species of reptile

The painted turtle is the most widespread native turtle of North America. It lives in relatively slow-moving fresh waters, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They have been shown to prefer large wetlands with long periods of inundation and emergent vegetation. This species is one of the few that is specially adapted to tolerate freezing temperatures for extended periods of time due to an antifreeze-like substance in their blood that keeps their cells from freezing. This turtle is a member of the genus Chrysemys, which is part of the pond turtle family Emydidae. Fossils show that the painted turtle existed 15 million years ago. Three regionally based subspecies evolved during the last ice age. The southern painted turtle (C. dorsalis) is alternately considered the only other species in Chrysemys, or another subspecies of C. picta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatchling</span>

In oviparous biology, a hatchling is a newly hatched fish, amphibian, reptile, or bird. A group of mammals called monotremes lay eggs, and their young are hatchlings as well.

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

The European pond turtle, also called commonly the European pond terrapin and the European pond tortoise, is a species of long-living freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the Western Palearctic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth red-bellied turtle</span> Population of red-bellied turtle

The Plymouth red-bellied turtle, sometimes called the Plymouth red-bellied cooter, is a disjunct population of northern red-bellied cooter endemic to Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas river cooter</span> Species of turtle

The Texas river cooter is a species of freshwater turtle endemic to the U.S. state of Texas. It is found in the river basins of the Brazos, San Bernard, Colorado, Guadalupe, San Antonio, Nueces, and their tributaries. It is one of three species of cooters (Pseudemys) occurring in Texas, including the Rio Grande cooter and the river cooter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida softshell turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Florida softshell turtle is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. The species is native to the Southeastern United States.

<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">River cooter</span> Species of turtle

The river cooter is a species of freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is native to the central and eastern United States, but has been introduced into parts of California, Washington, and British Columbia.

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

The pond slider is a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle. Three subspecies are described, the most recognizable of which is the red-eared slider, 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.

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

The Big Bend slider, also called commonly the Mexican Plateau slider and la jicotea de la meseta mexicana in Mexican Spanish, is a species of aquatic turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is native to the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The yellow mud turtle, also commonly known as the yellow-necked mud turtle, is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae. The species is endemic to the Central United States and Mexico.

<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">Black-knobbed map turtle</span> Species of turtle

The black-knobbed map turtle, formerly known as the black-knobbed sawback, is a small to medium-sized aquatic turtle with light gray skin. Some of the most distinguishing characteristics of the black-knobbed map turtle, and the Graptemys genus, are the protruding "spikes" on the turtle's carapace. This species inhabits mainly the fall lines of rivers in the Mobile Bay drainage, in Alabama and Mississippi.

<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">Eastern river cooter</span> Subspecies of turtle

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

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<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona mud turtle</span> Species of turtle

The Arizona mud turtle is a species of mud turtle in the family Kinosternidae found in the deserts of Arizona and Sonora (Mexico). It is a semi-aquatic turtle. It lives in impermanent puddles, and avoids permanent rivers and lakes.

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (5 May 2023). "Trachemys scripta scripta". NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data accessed through NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 207. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 . S2CID   87809001.
  4. ↑ Conant, R., J. Collins. 1991. Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
  5. ↑ Scriber, K. T.; et al. (August 4, 1986). "Genetic Divergence among Populations of the Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle (Pseudemys scripta) Separated by Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats". Copeia. 1986 (3). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: 691–700. doi:10.2307/1444951. JSTOR   1444951.
  6. ↑ "Yellow-Bellied Slider reptiles". Reptile Channel. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  7. ↑ Mo, Matthew (2019-04-01). "Possible records of Yellow-bellied Sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta) or River Cooters (Pseudemys concinna) in Hong Kong". Reptiles & Amphibians. 26 (1): 51–53. doi: 10.17161/randa.v26i1.14337 . ISSN   2332-4961. S2CID   241839429.
  8. ↑ "Care Sheet — Yellow-bellied Slider". Austin's Turtle Page. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  9. ↑ "Yellow-bellied Slider Turtle". Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Choosing a Yellow-Bellied Slider". Pet Place. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  11. ↑ GIBBON, J. WHITFIELD, and JEFFREY E. LovICH. "On the slider turtle (Trachemys scripta)." Herpetological monographs 4 (1990): 1-29.
  12. ↑ name="Davis & Grosse, 2024">Davis, Andrew; Grosse, Andrew (2008). "Measuring Fluctuating Asymmetry in Plastron Scutes of Yellow-bellied Sliders: the Importance of Gender, Size and Body Location". The American Midland Naturalist. 159 (2): 340–348. doi:10.1674/0003-0031(2008)159[340:MFAIPS]2.0.CO;2.
  13. ↑ Vamberger, M., Ihlow, F., Asztalos, M., Dawson, J., Jasinski, S., Praschag, P., & Fritz, U. (2019). So different, yet so alike: North American slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Vertebrate Zoology, 70, 87-96.
  14. ↑ Scardino, Rita; Mazzoleni, Sofia; Rovatsos, Michail; Vecchioni, Luca; Dumas, Francesca (2020-06-25). "Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization of the Sicilian Endemic Pond Turtle Emys trinacris and the Yellow-Bellied Slider Trachemys scripta scripta (Testudines, Emydidae)". Genes. 11 (6): 702. doi: 10.3390/genes11060702 . ISSN   2073-4425. PMC   7348936 . PMID   32630506.
  15. ↑ Mcgregor, Kelly Armentrout and Cari. "Trachemys scripta (pond slider, scripta)." Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan, 2020.
  16. ↑ Ochoa, Julio (June 30, 2007). "Red-eared slider turtles now on state's no-no list for pets". Naples Daily News. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  17. ↑ Armentrout, Kelly; Mcgregor, Cari. "Trachemys scripta (Pond Slider, scripta)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2022-04-05.
  18. ↑ Morreale, Stephen J.; Gibbons, J. Whitfield; Congdon, Justin D. (1984-06-01). "Significance of activity and movement in the yellow-bellied slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 62 (6): 1038–1042. doi:10.1139/z84-148. ISSN   0008-4301.
  19. ↑ Morreale, Stephen J.; Gibbons, J. Whitfield (1986). "Habitat Suitability Index: Slider Turtle" (PDF). United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
  20. ↑ Bouchard, S. S. (2004). Diet selection in the yellow-bellied slider turtle, Trachemys scripta: ontogenetic diet shifts and associative effects between animal and plant diet items. University of Florida.
  21. ↑ Team, R. H. (2021, August 9). Yellow-bellied slider: Ultimate Guide. Reptile Handbook. Retrieved April 14, 2022, from https://reptilehandbook.com/yellow-bellied-slider-ultimate-guide/#:~:text=In%20the%20wild%2C%20the%20primary%20predators%20of%20the,the%20moment%20they%20feel%20threatened%20by%20a%20predator.
  22. ↑ "Yellow-bellied Slider". Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  23. ↑ Eskew, Evan A.; Price, Steven J.; Dorcas, Michael E. (2010-09-01). "Survival and recruitment of semi-aquatic turtles in an urbanized region". Urban Ecosystems. 13 (3): 365–374. Bibcode:2010UrbEc..13..365E. doi:10.1007/s11252-010-0125-8. ISSN   1573-1642. S2CID   1893235.
  24. ↑ Bouchard, S. S., & Bjorndal, K. A. (2006). Ontogenetic Diet Shifts and Digestive Constraints in the Omnivorous Freshwater Turtle Trachemys scripta. Physiological & Biochemical Zoology, 79(1), 150–158. https://doi.org/10.1086/498190
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