Facts About Red-Eared Slider Turtles: Trivias on These Amazing Creatures

A red-eared slider, known scientifically as Trachemys scripta elegans, is a turtle native to North America and Central America. Its scientific name is derived from the Greek words trachys which means “roughness,” and emys, which means “turtle.”

Red-Eared Slider Turtle’s Classification

Scientific Name

The red-eared slider is scientifically known as Trachemys scripta elegans and is often referred to as the red-eared turtle because it has a distinctive pattern of dark spots on its shell; these spots are called scutes and look like ears sticking out of the shell.

Real Reptile or Not

Red-eared slider turtles belong to the Reptilia class and are native to North America (from Texas to New York).

There is debate over whether red-eared sliders should even be considered reptiles, as their closest living relatives are crocodiles. At least they’ve got those excellent little red ears!

Physical Appearance of Red-Eared Slider Turtles

The red-eared slider is a small, slimy reptile that looks like it belongs in a different environment altogether.

A red-eared slider can grow up to 12 inches long. Their shells vary in color depending on the individual. Some individuals have dark brown shells, while others have lighter-colored ones.

Where Red-Eared Slider Turtles Are Found

Red-eared sliders live across North America from Canada south into Mexico. They’re also found in New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa (where they’re often kept as pets). The red-eared slider is one of the most common reptiles found in North America. It is the second most widespread land animal behind the house cat. 

The red-eared slider is also one of North America’s most common freshwater turtles.

Habitat

They are usually seen basking along the shoreline or in shallow water. They are commonly found in ponds, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, streams, and slow-moving water bodies such as large pools and seeps. 

Red-eared sliders typically inhabit areas with plenty of vegetation around the habitat, including grasses, shrubs, trees, and bushes.

The red-eared slider is found in both warm and cold climates, but they prefer warmer environments.

Specific Places

This turtle is native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and has been spotted as far north as Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Canada. 

It is also found in some European countries, such as England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Senegal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, etc.

How Red-Eared Slider Turtles Live

Food

This reptile eats mostly plant material, including leaves, roots, seeds, fruits, flowers, fungi, and mosses. They feed mainly during the spring and summer months. They are omnivores, eating invertebrates like insects and vertebrates like frogs, salamanders, lizards, snakes, birds, mammals, crustaceans, and even fish eggs.

Their diets vary depending on location. In some areas, sliders consume large amounts of insect larvae, while others prefer snails and earthworms.

Breeding

Red-eared slider turtles are usually found alone, but during the breeding season, they form small groups called “subgroups.” These subgroups consist of up to 20 individuals, but each group typically contains one dominant male and several females.

Little is known about the mating systems of many species of reptiles. But researchers studying red-eared slider turtles have learned quite a lot about how they mate. The study found that males typically court females during springtime and sometimes even fall. 

Courtship involves the male swimming around the female and fluttering or vibrating the back side of his long claws on her face and head. This could help to direct his pheromone toward her. Females bask to keep their eggs warm while waiting for the next clutch of eggs to hatch.

Once mated, females spend some time basking to maintain egg temperature and can lay between 2 and 30 eggs per clutch.

Brumation

Many people think that turtles hibernate because they go into a deep sleep during cold weather. But that’s not true. Turtles brumate, which comes out of a deep slumber during warmer seasons. They do this to avoid freezing to death.

What’s the difference between hibernation and brumation? Animals that brumate sometimes wake up during the winter for food or drink, while animals that hibernate never wake up. 

Red-eared slider turtles start brumating in late autumn and end it around springtime. During the brumation period, they eat less and lose weight.

Red-Eared Slider Turtles as Pets

Red-eared sliders are one of the most common reptiles kept as pets. These small lizards are very popular among pet owners because of their docile nature and cute appearance. However, red ear slider captivity does come with some risks, including predation, disease, and injury.

The lifespan of the red-eared slider varies depending on several factors, such as gender, age, diet, environment, health conditions, and genetics. For example, males tend to live longer than females. Hatchlings typically reach sexual maturity within four months, while adults live anywhere from five to eight years.

Longevity increases with age, and captive red-eared sliders can live up to 70 years old. But other factors affect the length of life span. For example, if you plan to keep a red-eared slider as a pet, it is essential to know about its specific needs. This includes how much space it requires, what type of food it eats, whether it is prone to certain diseases, and how often it sheds its skin.

Red-eared sliders are often kept as pets, either alone or in groups called colonies, and are sometimes bred for commercial purposes.