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Trachemys scripta elegans

Description
Extremely variable. Carapace is dark green to olive brown or yellowish grey. It is marked with a variable pattern of light yellow and black bands. Carapace is serrated at the rear. Pattern darkens or fades in age. Plastron is yellow and has a dark spot in the center. Head, legs, and tail are dark green to brown with yellow to greenish stripes. Head is marked with a red or orange band behind the eye onto the neck. This red will fade with age.

Stats
Size
Carapace 7 - 9 inches
Status
Common
Similar Species
River cooter
Diet
This species is omnivorous. It consumes vegetation, mollusks, insects, crayfish, frogs, worms, and fish.
Habitat
Almost any body of water, from slow moving rivers and bayous to shallow lakes, ponds, swamps, and ditches. Prefer water with soft bottoms, vegetation, and at least two feet in depth.
Reproduction
Often found basking with other species. They will float lazily at the surface or swim among aquatic vegetation. It may be active from early April to October. Common in the pet trade for decades, this species has often been introduced to new habitat and can be invasive.
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Trachemys scripta elegans