Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Natural History & Origin
- are native to the southeastern and central United States and northern Mexico.
- range from the southern portion of Virginia south to the northern border of Florida.
- range from southwestern Virginia to Alabama.
Habitat
- Slider turtles are semiaquatic animals that live in freshwater and brackish environments.
- be found in terrestrial habitats, such as semi-evergreen forests or savannas, that
- areas will seek a new habitat with a water source.
Size
- Depths of 0.6 m to 0.9 m are most common for sliders.
- Slider turtles range from 10-29 cm in length and exhibit sexual dimorphism; females
- Females can reach a mass of up to 3,200 grams.
Lifespan
- They also can live in vernal/seasonal farm ponds.
- also common places for slider turtles to live.
- adults when they are 15-20 cm in length and 5-8 years old.
Behavior & Social Structure
- are gregarious animals, and they are often found in large numbers.
- known to be territorial or aggressive, and they do not make efforts to defend a specific
- associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
Reproduction
- Growth rate declines markedly once the turtles have reached sexual maturity.
- The breeding season for slider turtles begins in April and usually last through late
- reach sexual maturity between 2 and 5 years of age, and females reach sexual maturity
Diet
- Slider turtles use their vision to forage and respond to their surroundings.
- They feed on insects such as beetles
- Juvenile slider turtles need to eat other animals because they