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Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
Description
A large basking turtle marked by the red stripe behind each eye. Native to Indiana's southwest but widely released elsewhere from the pet trade.
Stats
Size
Carapace 7 - 9 inches
Status
Common
Similar Species
River cooters and map turtles; the red “ear” mark and yellow plastral blotches are distinctive.
Diet
Omnivorous - aquatic plants, insects, crayfish, fish, and carrion; more herbivorous with age.
Habitat
Ponds, lakes, and slow rivers with abundant basking sites and vegetation.
Reproduction
Lays 2 to more than 20 eggs in early summer, often several clutches per season.
Red-eared Slider
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
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