It inhabits ponds, lakes, swamps, creeks, streams, and slow-flowing rivers - wherever water can be consistently found. The Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO.The red-eared slider is a diurnal, semi-aquatic freshwater turtle native to parts of the United States. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia, University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA. Peterson Field Guides: Reptiles and Amphibians (Eastern/Central North America). Pond sliders, particularly the Red-eared Slider, are currently sold in pet stores world-wide and frequently are released into the wild outside of its natural range.īest places to see in Tennessee: Basking on logs or fallen trees around the edges of lakes or ponds.Ĭonant, R.The name “slider” refers to the quick retreat into the water the turtles make when they feel threatened.Slider populations have declined recently due to collection for the pet trade and food trade. ![]() Status in Tennessee: Common across the state, especially Red-eared Sliders. Eggs hatch in late summer or fall, but the young remain in the nest through the winter and dig out the next spring. Females leave the water to find a suitable nesting site to lay 4-22 oval, white eggs. Aquatic vegetation, muddy bottoms, and abundant basking sites are important too.ĭiet: Primarily vegetarians but will eat insects, snails, tadpoles, crayfish, and fish.īreeding information: Adults begin courting and mating in the water during spring, possibly continuing into fall. Habitat : Prefers still waters such as ponds and lakes, but will also use slow-moving rivers, sloughs, and oxbow lakes. Eastern River Cooter has dark, donut-shaped markings under the marginal plates. Ouachita Map Turtle has large rectangular patch behind eye and has a keel. Painted Turtle has red coloration on shell. Northern Map Turtle has small spot behind eye. Mississippi Map Turtle has yellow crescent behind eye. Similar Species: False Map Turtle has a backward, yellow “L” mark behind eyes. Cumberland Slider has a narrower yellow stripe behind each eye and fewer, wider stripes on legs, neck, and head. Yellow-bellied Slider has a large yellow blotch behind the eyes that joins the neck stripe. Red-eared Slider usually has a distinctive, broad red stripe behind each eye. Plastron (lower shell) is yellow with each plate usually having a dark spot. ![]() Lower jaw is rounded rather than flattened. Head, neck, and limbs are striped yellow over a green or brownish skin. Red-eared Slider occurs west of the Upper Cumberland and Tennessee River drainages to the Mississippi River, Yellow-bellied Slider occurs in the Tennessee River in the southeast corner of state, and Cumberland Slider occurs in the Upper Cumberland and Tennessee River drainages in eastern Tennessee.ĭescription : A medium-sized, aquatic turtle (adults average 5.0 to 8.0 inches in length, max 11.5+ inches but bigger ones have been reported) with a carapace (upper shell) ranging from dark green to brown to almost black with yellowish markings. Three subspecies are recognized in Tennessee: Red-eared Slider ( T. Tennessee Watchable Wildlife | Pond Slider
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