The red-eared slider is named for the bright red patches on the sides of its head and the way it slides into the water when alarmed. As a sociable species, the red-eared slider often climbs atop one another while basking in the sun on a log or rock emerging from the water.
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
Fact File
Where to see them: Reptile House
Length: 5 to 11 in
Weight: Up to 2 lbs
Habitat: Freshwater ponds and streams
Diet: Fish, mollusks, and insects
Risk Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk/near threatened)
Pet Trade Problem: Traditionally the most popular turtle sold as a pet, massive collection of the red-eared slider from the wild and release into non-native regions warrant conservation concern.
