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Chrysemys picta bellii
I saw these two turtle basking in the sun in the local pond. While the one behind is a red eared slider,the turtle in front of it looks like the Western Painted Turtle.
according to the wikipedia it is a "Human-introduced range"
Pet releases are starting to establish the painted turtle outside its native range. In California, it is an invasive species that endangers the local western pond turtle.
I do not believe that it is out of its range. The painted turtle is the turtle with the largest range across the U.S. and as it goes up and down the entire east coast I do not know why painted turtles wouldn't be seen all along the west coast. Depending on what field guide you are looking at they will say different things for the range of painted turtles but I do know that they go as far west as Washington and I would imagine that the climate through California would be conducive to their environmental needs.
The one in the front of the red eared slider is a Western Painted turtle, This one seems to be outside it's normal range in California.
Yes you are correct the one in the back is a Red Eared Slider and the other is a Painted Turtle.
Spotted on Apr 7, 2012
Submitted on Apr 7, 2012
