Yellow-bellied Slider
Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta scripta
Category: reptile
Brief Description
A medium-sized semi-aquatic turtle known for the yellow patch behind its eye and its yellow plastron (under-shell).
Characteristics
Oval-shaped, dark green to brownish-black carapace (top shell). Most notably features a vertical yellow bar or blotch behind the eyes and a yellow plastron often with two black spots. The skin is dark with yellow stripes.
Habitat
Found in slow-moving freshwater such as ponds, lakes, marshes, and rivers with abundant vegetation and places to bask.
When to Find It
Diurnal; most active during the day. In winter, they may brumate at the bottom of water bodies.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, they are often considered invasive in regions outside their native range.
Ecological Role
Acts as both predator and scavenger, controlling populations of aquatic insects and plants while serving as prey for larger mammals and birds.
Easily Confused With
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) which has a distinct red stripe behind the eye; River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) which typically lacks the bold vertical yellow bar behind the eye.
Observation Tips
Look for them basking on logs or rocks during sunny mornings. They are very shy and will slide into the water quickly if they feel vibrations or see movement.
Interesting Facts
Gender in these turtles is determined by the temperature of the nest during incubation; warmer temperatures typically produce females while cooler temperatures produce males.