Red-eared Slider

Trachemys scripta elegans

The Red-eared Slider is a friendly turtle that loves to swim in ponds and lakes. It has a bright red mark behind its eyes and enjoys basking in the sun!

Habitat: Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers

Appearance

The Red-eared Slider has a smooth, olive to brown shell, often with yellow streaking. Its head and limbs are green with fine yellow lines, and it is famously identified by a prominent red or orange patch on each side of its head, behind the eyes.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyEmydidaeGenusTrachemys

Red-eared Slider

Interesting facts

Baby sliders hatch with a special "egg tooth" to break their shell!

Female sliders dig their nests using only their strong back legs.

Red-eared Sliders spend most of their day either swimming or sunbathing.

These turtles can recognize individual people who feed them.

Special abilities

Red-eared Slider has a hard, bony shell that acts as a strong shield, protecting it from many potential dangers.

Red-eared Slider can bask in the sun to regulate its body temperature, which helps it stay warm and digest food efficiently.

Red-eared Slider can hold its breath for long periods underwater, allowing it to forage for food or hide from predators.

Measurements & details

Length: 12-30 cm
Weight: 0.5-2.5 kg
Lifespan: 20-30 years
Top Speed: 0.5 km/h
Swim Speed: 3 km/h
Clutch Size: 5-23
Incubation: 60-90 days
Max Depth: 3 m

Diet & Feeding

Young sliders eat bugs and fish, but adults enjoy more greens and aquatic plants!

Age differences: Young turtles are mostly carnivorous, eating insects and small aquatic life; as they mature, their diet shifts to become primarily herbivorous.

Primary Foods

Aquatic insects
Small fish
Tadpoles
Aquatic plants
Algae
Worms

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Adult alligators often prey on juvenile and adult sliders.

eaten by

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Large wading birds can snatch young sliders from the water.

eats

Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

Young sliders frequently consume small fish like mosquitofish.

eats

Common Duckweed

Lemna minor

Adult sliders commonly graze on various aquatic plants and algae.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Webbed Feet

These animals have special feet with skin between their toes, which helps them swim super fast!

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!