Species profile
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
At a glance
Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 65 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 166,904 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Texas, California, and Florida the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Can live up to 30 years in the wild and over 40 years in captivity.
- The red-eared slider subspecies is the most commonly traded pet turtle worldwide.
- Absorbs dissolved oxygen through skin and throat tissue while hibernating underwater.
- Adults reach 5–12 inches in shell length, with females noticeably larger than males.
- Basks communally on logs, sometimes stacking several layers deep to absorb heat.
Where Pond Slider are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Pond Slider
Background
The pond slider (Trachemys scripta) is a species of common, medium-sized, semiaquatic turtle. There are three subspecies, the most recognizable of which is the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), which is popular in the pet trade and has been introduced to other parts of the world by people releasing it to the wild. Hatchling and juvenile pond sliders have a green upper shell (carapace), yellow…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Pond Slider article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Photo credit: no rights reserved, uploaded by Glenn Berry. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.