The red stripes are where the external ears are located.Īs the red-eared slider matures, this red color can fade and even disappear. When it comes to the red stripe found on each side of the turtle’s head, this mark distinguishes this terrapin from other North American turtle species. The feet may be withdrawn in the carapace together with the tail and head. Red-eared sliders have partially-webbed feet that make the animal very efficient in the water. Reptile experts say that the color is important in camouflaging in the wild. The turtle’s legs, tail, and head are green with very fine, irregular, yellow-colored lines. The plastron is the belly of the red-eared slider and is always yellow in color with dark-green symmetrical markings. The young and recently-hatched terrapins have leaf-green shells and this becomes darker as it becomes more mature. Mostly it is dark-green with light and dark backgrounds. The carapace changes color according to the age of the terrapin. The carapace has an oval shape and is flattened with a weak keel which is easily seen in young red-eared sliders. Keratin is the primary component of this turtle’s scutes. Looking at the rear of this terrapin, the marginal scutes are notched. The pleural scutes surround the vertebral scutes while the marginal scutes are the sections located at the edge of the shell. The upper section has the vertebral scutes that form the elevated portion of the shell. The shell of a red-eared slider has two sections: the dorsal or upper carapace and the lower or ventral carapace. And because of this, you will often find red-eared sliders sunbathing to warm their bodies. They need the help of the environment so they can properly adjust their temperature. The red-eared slider is a poikilotherm, which is a term for animals that are unable to regulate their own body temperatures. Their quality of life may also depend on the quality of their living conditions and environment. Experts say that the life span of these turtles can be shorter when these are kept as pets.
This terrapin can live from 20 to 30 years but some pet owners reveal that their pets can live more than 40 years. Just like most female animal species, female red-eared sliders are larger than their male counterparts. The average length of the shell is from 15 to 20 cm.
The upper section of the shell of the red-eared slider can grow up to more than 40 cm in length. It can slide quite quickly from rocks to the water and hence it is known as a slider. The name red-eared slider comes from the very noticeable small red area or stripe near its sears. It is also one of the most popular pets all over the world. This is considered the most common and the most popular pet turtle in the U.S. It belongs to the family Emydidae and is the subspecies of the common pond slider. The red-eared slider turtle is also known as the red-eared terrapin. Scientific Facts Common Name: Red-Eared Slider Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta elegans Life Span: 20 to 30 years Size: More than 40 cm in length Habitat: Semi-aquatic, domesticated species Country of Origin: The Southern United States and Northern Mexico Physical Description
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