Pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) are medium-sized, semiaquatic turtles found in North America. Their name 'slider' comes from the behavior of these turtles when startled. Groups of sliders often bask and sun on logs, branches, and vegetation at or even well above the water's surface, but if they sense danger, they quickly scramble, darting away to safety underwater.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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NatatorialNatatorial animals are those adapted for swimming. Some fish use their pectoral fins as the primary means of locomotion, sometimes termed labriform...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withHatchlings and juveniles of this species have a greenish upper shell (carapace), yellow bottom shell (plastron), and green and yellow stripes and markings on their skin. These patterns and colors in the skin and shell fade with age until the carapace is a muted olive green to orange-brown or brown and the plastron is a dull yellow or darker. Some sliders become almost black with few visible markings. The carapace is oval with a bit of rounding and a central crest with knobs, but these features soften and fade with age, adults being smoother and flatter. Males typically have much longer front claws than adult females, while females usually have shorter, more slender tails than males.
Pond sliders are native to the south-central and southeastern United States and northern Mexico. They live in lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, lagoons, and swamps preferring shallow water with slow flow, diverse vegetation, and places to bask.
Pond sliders are social and often found in groups. These groups are sometimes quite large, and are often seen basking and sunning on logs, branches, and vegetation at or even well above the water's surface; they readily and quickly scramble if they sense danger, shooting back in and darting away to safety underwater. Pond sliders are active during the day spending their time feeding, swimming, walking, and basking in the sun. To communicate with each other they use displays, eye-rolling, vibrations, and touch. When they want to send signals to other turtles, sliders will move their eyes quickly back and forth creating reflections and flashes of light. They will also wave their claws under the water causing vibrations and touch each others' faces.
Pond sliders are omnivores. They feed on a wide variety of plants, insects, fish, crayfish, freshwater sponges, snails, slugs, small amphibians, and other reptiles.
Pond sliders are polygynandrous (promiscuous) meaning that both the males and females have multiple partners. Their breeding season occurs from April through October. Females usually lay 1-2 clutches per year with 6-20 eggs per clutch. The eggs are laid in the nest constructed in sand or soil and are incubated for 60-90 days. Some hatchlings may stay inside their eggshells after hatching for the first day or two and begin their independence from the day they emerge from their eggs. However, most hatchlings remain in their nests for up to 10 months. Male Pond sliders reach reproductive maturity at 2-5 years of age, while females become reproductively mature when they are 5-8 years old.
The main reasons for the Pond slider populations decline include the loss and degradation of their habitat, road mortality, and pollution due to pesticides and heavy metals. Collection for the pet trade has also impacted the population size of Pond sliders. In the 1900s, many of them were captured for sale. In the 1950s, millions of turtles were being farmed and shipped abroad as part of the pet trade.
According to IUCN, the Pond slider is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...