Red-eared Slider

Description:

The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is a subspecies of pond slider. Red-eared sliders get their name from the distinctive red patch of skin around their ears.The female red-eared slider grows to be 25–33 cm (10–13 in) in length and males 20–25 cm (8–10 in). The red stripe on each side of the head distinguishes the red-eared slider from all other North American species. The carapace (top shell) is oval and flattened (especially in the male), has a weak keel that is more pronounced in the young, and the rear marginal scutes are notched.

Habitat:

Primarily ponds, ditches, and other aquatic areas.

Notes:

It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States