The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) is a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle. Sliders become inactive at temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Three subspecies are recognized in Tennessee: Red-eared Slider (T. s. elegans), Yellow-bellied Slider (T. s. scripta), and Cumberland Slider (T. s. troostii). The red-eared slider turtles common in the pet trade so they are turning up all around the globe.
Pond sliders, particularly the Red-eared Slider, are currently sold in pet stores world-wide and frequently are released into the wild outside of its natural range. There are three subspecies, the most recognizable of which is the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade and has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild. Pond Slider Pond Slider, Trachemys scripta. Sliders sleep at night underwater, usually resting on the bottom or floating on the surface, using their inflated throat to help them float. Scientific Classification Pond sliders are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET Some can be found over a mile from the nearest body of water The pond slider, or red-eared slider, is a basking turtle common across most the state. Pond sliders are aquatic, omnivorous generalists, which rarely leave water except to bask (Ernst et al., 1994; Brown et al., 1995; … Adults and juveniles are sometimes frozen to loss of life when drawdowns or excessive temperatures trigger the pond to freeze strong. Known for their contrasting body coloration in black and yellow, they are also popular as pets. They will often hibernate underwater or under banks and hollow stumps. They are popular in the pet trade, despite being named among the 100 most invasive species in the world. In northern populations the slider turtle hibernates on the backside of the aquatic habitat beneath sheets of ice. Pond sliders are native in the southern Great Lakes region east to West Virginia, west to Indiana and Illinois and south throughout most of the southeastern and south-central United States. The Pond slider is a turtle species, with 3 subspecies, that inhabit the ponds and other water bodies in selected regions of both the Americas. Fun Facts: The name “slider” refers to the quick retreat into the water the turtles make when they feel threatened. This species frequently moves between bodies of water after large rains. The Yellow-bellied Slider is a subspecies of the pond slider turtle and is native to parts of the US.
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