Species Profile - Trachemys scripta elegans

Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1838)

Common Name: Red-eared Slider

Synonyms and Other Names:

Identification: Trachemys s. elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1838), the Red-eared Slider, has a unique, broad red or orange (rarely yellow) stripe behind each eye (Ernst et al, 1994; Conant and Collins, 1998). Younger individuals have numerous dark, eyelike spots on the yellow plastron (Conant and Collins, 1998).

Trachemys scripta, usually T. s. elegans, is probably the most widely illustrated turtle in the world, appearing in numerous publications (Carr, 1952; Smith, 1961; Ernst and Barbour, 1972, 1989; Mount, 1975; Behler and King, 1979; Pritchard, 1979; Sengoku, 1979; Smith and Smith, 1979; Martof et al., 1980; Caldwell and Collins, 1981; Smith and Brodie, 1982; DeGraaf and Rudis, 1983; Pritchard and Trebbau, 1984; [Mathui], 1985; Stebbins, 1985; Garrett and Barker, 1987; Green and Pauley, 1987; Alderton, 1988; Christiansen and Bailey, 1988; [Sievert] and Sievert, [1988]; Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Harding and Holman, 1990; Ashton and Ashton, 1991; Carmichael and Williams, 1991; Leviton et al., 1992; Collins, 1993; Collins and Collins, 1993; Ernst et al., 1994; Mitchell, 1994; Brown et al., 1995; Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Degenhardt et al., 1996; McKeown, 1996; Harding, 1997; Lamar, 1997; Branch, 1998; Campbell, 1998; Conant and Collins, 1998; Cox et al., 1998; Powell et al., 1998; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999a, b; Behler, 1999; Phillips et al., 1999; Johnson, 2000; Minton, 2001).

Size: carapace length of 125-289 mm

Native Range: The Red-eared Slider's indigenous range broadly covers the midwestern states and extending as far east as West Virginia and a disjunct (relict) population in southern Ohio, as far west as eastern New Mexico, and as far south as south of the Rio Grande River into northeastern Mexico (Smith, 1961; Webb, 1970; Smith and Smith, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1993; Green and Pauley, 1978; Caldwell and Collins, 1981; Lohoefener and Altig, 1983; Garrett and Barker, 1987; Christiansen and Bailey, 1988; Carpenter and Krupa, 1989; Dundee and Rossman, 1989; Collins and Collins, 1993; Flores-Villela, 1993; Degenhardt et al., 1996; Conant and Collins, 1998; Ballinger and Lynch, 1999; Bartlett and Bartlett, 1999b; Phillips et al., 1999; Auth et al., 2000; Dixon, 2000; Johnson, 2000; Stuart, 2000; Minton, 2001).


This map only depicts Great Lakes introductions. Click here for Great Lakes region collection information Click here for the national map

Great Lakes Nonindigenous Occurrences: The earliest known occurrence of Trachemys scripta elegans in the Great Lakes Basin (GL) was recorded in 1922 in Maeystown, IL by the Field Museum of Natural History (Spear et al., 2018). A specimen record from 1948 places T. s. elegans below the ordinary high water mark in Duck Lake, Muskegon, MI (Gordon and Fowler, 1961). The Red-eared Slider has known occurrences in every individual basin included in the GL (but not within the Great Lakes proper) and has breeding populations established in the basins of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario (Seburn, 2015; Spear et al., 2018; USGS). According to recent occurrence data, its distribution in the GL region spans eight different states and one Canadian province including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Ontario (Spear et al., 2018).

In Ontario, over 80% of the reported sliders were concentrated around urban areas, where they are most likely to be released into surrounding water bodies when they have overstayed their welcome as pets (Seburn, 2015). This pattern is consistent with other observational data from around the globe, as urban areas with high human population densities are impacted the most by introduced species from the pet trade (Thomson et al., 2010; Kopecky et al., 2013, Banha, 2017; Koo et al., 2020).

Table 1. Great Lakes region nonindigenous occurrences, the earliest and latest observations in each state/province, and the tally and names of HUCs with observations†. Names and dates are hyperlinked to their relevant specimen records. The list of references for all nonindigenous occurrences of Trachemys scripta elegans are found here.

Full list of USGS occurrences

State/Province	First Observed	Last Observed	Total HUCs with observations†	HUCs with observations†
IN	2002	2002	1	St. Joseph
MI	1924	2007	4	Detroit; Pere Marquette-White; Raisin; Upper Grand
NY	2001	2001	2	Buffalo-Eighteenmile; Lower Genesee
OH	1999	1999	*
ONT	2012	2018	*
WI	2017	2017	1	Milwaukee

Table last updated 2/27/2023

† Populations may not be currently present.

* HUCs are not listed for areas where the observation(s) cannot be approximated to a HUC (e.g. state centroids or Canadian provinces).

Ecology: Pond sliders are aquatic, omnivorous generalists, which rarely leave water except to bask (Ernst et al., 1994; Brown et al., 1995; Conant and Collins, 1998; Cox et al., 1998). Adult turtles tend to be more herbivorous than juveniles, but both will opportunistically eat aquatic invertebrates (especially insects and mollusks), fish, frog eggs and tadpoles, aquatic snakes, and a wide variety of aquatic plants and algae (Ernst et al., 1994; Brown et al., 1995). Although they prefer quiet waters, T. elegans is highly adaptable and can tolerate anything from brackish waters, to manmade canals, and city park ponds (Ernst et al., 1994; Cox et al., 1998; Salzberg, 2000). The Red-eared Slider may wander far from water, and rapidly colonize any newly available habitat (Cox et al., 1998; Minton, 2001). In California, this ability to rapidly colonize available habitat may be aided by an extensive system of manmade canals and irrigation ditches. Females lay 2-23 eggs per clutch in a cavity dug out of the soil, and as many as five clutches may be oviposited per year (Gibbons, 1990; Ernst et al., 1994).

Great Lakes Means of Introduction: Throughout its nonindigenous range T. scripta is introduced primarily through pet releases and escapes; a situation which has continued for several decades since the 1930s, reaching a peak during the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle television cartoon craze of the late 1980s-early 1990s (Spear et al., 2018). Most species of turtles are subject to intense commercial trade in the food markets (Williams, 1999); therefore, the transport and potential release of T. scripta for food and aquaculture in Asia and U.S. Pacific states with proportionally large Asian populations cannot be ruled out. In addition, some Asian cultures believe that releasing captive animals brings good luck, and religious events solely dedicated to releasing turtles are common (Williams, 1999; Ma and Shi, 2017; Everard, 2019).

Great Lakes Status: In the Great Lakes, the Red-eared Slider is reproducing and overwintering in the basins of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, but are not found in the Great Lakes proper (Seburn, 2015; Spear et al., 2018; USGS). Reproduction has been reported and confirmed in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin (Bunnel 2005; Kikillus et al. 2010; Seburn 2015; Spear et al. 2018; Herpetological Review; Wisconsin Herp Atlas; USGS NAS). For instance, there is evidence for reproductive populations of invasive T. s. elegans in Pleasant Prairie and Franklin, Wisconsin (Spear et al., 2018; Herpetological Review; Wisconsin Herp Atlas). The current populations of T. s. elegans in Marion County, Indiana, are reproducing, overwintering, and spreading, yet it is not clear if they represent an indigenous migration or nonindigenous introduction (Minton, 2001). Reproductive populations of T. s. elegans have been reported in New Harmony, IN (Kikillus et al., 2010; Spear et al., 2018). Overwintering success has been observed for this species as far north as southern Ontario, and has been anecdotally reported even further north into Canada (Seburn 2015; Spear et al. 2018). A specimen record from 1948 places T. s. elegans below the ordinary high water mark in Duck Lake, Muskegon, MI (Gordon & Fowler 1961, USGS NAS) - this record suggests a range extension from Crystal Lake just north of Duck Lake. A citizen science record of T. s. elegans pictured below the ordinary high water mark in a connected waterway (to Lake Michigan) in East Pilsen, Chicago, IL has been published on GBIF and has been determined “research grade” by iNaturalist (Ueda 2021).

In nearly all of its nonindigenous localities in North America, including Canada, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and perhaps Massachusetts, isolated populations of T. s. elegans are reproducing and overwintering (Stein et al., 1980; Manchester, 1982; DeGraaf and Rudis, 1983; Harding and Holman, 1990; Cardoza et al., 1993; Ernst et al., 1994; Mitchell, 1994; D'Alessandro and Ernst, 1995; Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Platt and Snyder, 1996; Harding, 1997; Salzberg, 2000; Breisch et al., 2001; R. Burke, personal communication 1997; A. Hulse, personal communication 1997; Bunnel, 2005; Kikillus et al., 2010; Seburn, 2015; Spear et al., 2018; Herpetological Review; Wisconsin Herp Atlas; USGS NAS). Although Klemens (1993) questions whether T. s. elegans eggs can hatch at colder latitudes in Connecticut, breeding populations have been documented in Ontario, Canada, and Michigan (Spear et al., 2018).

Great Lakes Impacts:

Summary of species impacts derived from literature review. Click on an icon to find out more...

Environmental Socioeconomic Beneficial

Current research on the environmental impact/effect of Trachemys scripta elegans in the Great Lakes is inadequate to support proper assessment.

Research on the environmental impacts of Trachemys scripta elegans on native Great Lakes communities and ecosystems is needed.

In captivity, Red-eared Sliders are frequently raised in poor conditions, leading to widespread disease and parasite infections. In turn, turtles that are reared in captivity and subsequently released into nature have a high likelihood of spreading pathogens and parasites to wild native turtles in the Great Lakes (Hays, 1999; O’Keefe, 2009; Harding and Mifsud, 2017; Demkowska-Kutrzepa et al., 2018, Queensland DAF Risk Assessment). Spear et al. (2018) recommend that parasite and disease introductions by T. s. elegans need to be monitored in the Great Lakes, as the species is known to host and spread salmonella, ranavirus, bacterial infections, and helminth parasites to other vulnerable species globally (Hays, 1999; Verneau et al., 2011; Brenes et al., 2014; Heritier et al. 2017; Ma and Shi, 2017; Demkowska-Kutrzepa et al., 2018; Hidalgo-Vila et al., 2020; Queensland DAF Risk Assessment).

There is little evidence to suggest that T. s. elegans poses a significant ecological threat to the endemic turtles residing in the Great Lakes. Peterman and Ryan (2009) show that the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and the Red-eared Slider share basking habitat preferences, however, no significant impacts from this interaction have been observed. There is no documentation of T. s. elegans negatively impacting endangered species in the Great Lakes region, such as the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii; Spear et al., 2018; IUCN). In addition, native northern map turtles (Graptemys geographica) and painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) that live in sympatry with these sliders do not appear to experience significant competition for food resources (Jaeger and Cobb, 2012; Haas, 2015; Spear et al., 2018). Nonetheless, more research is needed to fully determine if T. s. elegans significantly impacts other sympatric native species via competition or predation.

Intergeneric hybridization is known to occur among chelonians (Brophy et al. 2006), but it is unknown whether the Red-eared Slider would hybridize with native Great Lakes species.

Trachemys scripta elegans has a high socio-economic impact in the Great Lakes.

In addition to potentially serving as disease vectors to endemic fauna in their invaded range, Red-eared Sliders have been highly associated with salmonellosis in humans. Salmonellosis in humans can be fatal, especially for young children (CDC website). In the 1970s, approximately 14% of all salmonella cases in Americans per year were related to pet ownership of T. s. elegans (Cohen et al., 1980; Queensland DAF Risk Assessment). From 2006 to 2020, hundreds of salmonella cases and numerous outbreaks were reported in Americans that had close interactions with T. s. elegans, including those that were from the Great Lakes region (Cohen et al., 1980; CDC website). For instance in 2017 alone, over 45 people from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York were infected with salmonellosis linked to pet turtles (CDC website).

There are no records of T. s. elegans causing damage to infrastructure, markets or economic sectors, recreational activities, tourism, or the natural aesthetic of the areas that it inhabits in the Great Lakes.

Trachemys scripta elegans has a high beneficial impact in the Great Lakes.

The Red-eared Slider is a commercially valuable species in the pet trade and is recognized as the most sought after pet turtle in the world (Mo, 2019). Approximately 52 million individuals have been distributed around the globe (Spear et al., 2018). In addition, many people purchase sliders to keep them in decorative ponds on their property for aesthetic purposes (Kraus, 2009; Mo, 2019). Some Asian cultures believe that consuming turtles can bring good luck, and T. s. elegans can often be found in Chinese food markets or novelty shops for purchase (Williams, 1999; Mo, 2019).

T. s. elegans has also been subject to frequent research focused on its adaptability to extreme environments for the purpose of finding novel solutions to difficult problems in human medicine. For instance, the ability of T. s. elegans to survive for long periods of time in anoxic conditions has been studied extensively by medical professionals and molecular biologists hoping to find solutions for hypoxia-induced injuries in humans during cerebral strokes and heart attacks (Willmore and Storey 1997; Milton et al. 2007; Nayak et al. 2009; Biggar 2020). These studies mostly center around understanding the physiological and molecular processes in T. s. elegans associated with retaining cellular health when oxygen-deprived.

Management: Regulations (pertaining to the Great Lakes region)
In 1975, the U. S. banned the sale and public distribution of live turtles and viable turtle eggs measuring less than 4 inches in carapace length to mitigate the spread of salmonellosis in humans, particularly in young children (40 Fed. Reg. 22543). This regulation does not apply to the distribution of turtles for educational, scientific, or exhibitional purposes and does not impact business related exports internationally.

In Illinois (Ill. Admin. Code tit. 8, § 25.110(c)), it is illegal to sell or possess turtles and turtle eggs that violate the Public Health Service Act (42 USCA 264; 21 CFR 1240.62; 2005) and Section 3372 of the Lacey Act (16 USCA 3372). In Indiana (312 Ind. Admin. Code 9-5- 7.5), it is illegal to sell turtles of any species or origin that are less than 4 inches in carapace length unless it is associated with scientific research, an accredited museum, educational institution, college, university, or government agency. In Michigan (Mich. Comp. Laws § 287.312), it is legal to sell turtles and viable eggs under 4 inches if the distributor provides a health advisory sheet with the purchase. In New York (N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10 § 2.58(a)), it remains illegal to sell small turtles and health advisory warnings must be posted near every commercial or educational display where turtles may be handled by the public. In addition, turtles in NY may be tested for salmonellosis at any time and ordered humanely euthanized if they test positive for bacterial infections by health officials. Pennsylvania (35 PA. Code § 1071) maintains federal law and reinforces the ban on the sale of small turtles.

Refer to the CDC website for all regulations related to salmonellosis (https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/docs/turtle-menu.pdf).

Note: Check federal, state/provincial, and local regulations for the most up-to-date information.

Control
Biological

There are no known biological control methods for this species.

Physical

A rigorous approach to removing T. s. elegans has been employed and tested for efficiency in Queensland, Australia. Workers utilized a combination of physical methods including draining small water bodies, relocating native aquatic fauna, setting up pitfall traps and cathedral traps to capture sliders, and building walls around the area of focus to keep sliders from emigrating once perturbed (O’Keefe, 2009). A method of splashing and disturbing the water, with the intention of drawing turtles toward deployed seine nets was also tested for efficiency as it has been known to be productive for capturing native Australian turtles. Unfortunately, these approaches proved ineffective for the complete removal of T. s. elegans in the test site, as the species is known to burrow in the sediment in depths up to two meters when disturbed (O’Keefe, 2009). O’Keefe (2009) recommends that managers use additional methodologies to ensure complete removal including: intensive trapping and netting coupled with enhanced detection techniques such as a trained dog to locate the species terrestrially (individuals, nests, and eggs) and finding sliders via environmental DNA. In addition, Garcia-Diaz et al. (2017) recommend additional survey methods for monitoring the status of T. s. elegans by using cameras and basking traps from the start of eradication efforts.

Chemical

There are no known chemical control methods for this species.

Note: Check state/provincial and local regulations for the most up-to-date information regarding permits for control methods. Follow all label instructions.

Remarks: The most current taxonomic reviews or summaries of pond sliders are by Seidel (1988, 2002), Seidel et al. (1999), and Iverson et al. (2000). Liner (1994) provides a list of regional vernacular names for T. scripta. The best summaries or literature reviews of the natural history of T. scripta are by Gibbons and Semlitsch (1991), Ernst et al. (1994), and various studies compiled by Gibbons (1990). Scientific and standard English names follow Crother (2008).

Pond sliders are commercially raised in incredibly large numbers for the pet trade throughout the southeastern U.S., especially Louisiana (Ernst et al., 1994; Williams, 1999; Salzberg, 2000). The sale of all turtles under the size of "4 inches" (about 100 mm) or viable eggs was banned in the United States, except for educational or research purposes, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1975 to prevent the spread of salmonellosis in children (Ernst et al., 1994; Level, 1997; Williams, 1999). Four inches or less is thought to be the size that a child can easily stuff into his mouth (Williams, 1999). The extensive use of antibiotics at turtle hatcheries in the U.S. has given rise to more antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella (Ernst et al., 1994). In many U.S. states T. s. elegans is the subject of specific regulation (Level, 1997). Nevertheless, undersized juvenile T. scripta are still commonly sold in pet stores in Florida, and as recently as 2002 they were sold by roadside venders at a busy intersection in Gainesville, Florida (Somma, personal observation). The European Union has banned the import of T. s. elegans because of the negative impact that released pets can have on native European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis species complex) (Williams, 1999).

References: (click for full references)

Abel, J. 2001. Personal communication—Resident, Palo Alto, California.

Albright, J. 1999. Hypotheticals, accidentals, and other oddities. Pp. 197-200. In: M. L. Hunter, A. J. K. Calhoun, and M. McCollough (editors). Maine Amphibians and Reptiles. The University of Maine Press, Orono, Maine. 254 pp. + CD.

Alderton, D. 1988. Turtles & Tortoises of the World. Facts on File, Inc., New York. 191 pp.

Ashton, R. E., Jr., and P. S. Ashton. 1991. Handbook of Reptiles and Amphibians of Florida. Part Two. Lizards, Turtles & Crocodilians. Revised Second Edition. Windward Publishing, Inc., Miami. 191 pp.

Auth, D. L., H. M. Smith, B. C. Brown, and D. Lintz. 2000. A description of the Mexican amphibian and reptile collection of the Strecker Museum. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 35(4):65-85.

Ballinger, R. E., and J. D. Lynch. 1999. Geographic distribution: Trachemys scripta elegans (red-eared slider). USA: Nebraska: Richardson Co. Herpetological Review 30(2):108-109.

Bartlett, R. D. 1994. Florida's alien herps. Reptile & Amphibian Magazine (27):56-73, 103-109.

Bartlett, R. D., and P. P. Bartlett. 1999a. A Field Guide to Florida Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston. 280 pp.

Bartlett, R. D., and P. D. Bartlett. 1999b. A Field Guide to Texas Reptiles and Amphibians. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston. 331 pp.

Beebee, T. J. C., and R. A. Griffiths. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles. A Natural History of the British Herpetofauna. HarperCollins Publishers, London. 270 pp.

Behler, J. L. 1999. National Audubon Society First Field Guide. Reptiles. Scholastic, Inc., New York. 160 pp.

Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 743 pp.

Beltz, E. 1997. HerPet-POURRI. Quite a range extension. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 32(6):140.

Beltz, E. 2002. HerPET-POURRI. World traveled turtles. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 37(6):112.

Branch, B. [=W. R.] 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised Edition. Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida. 399 pp.

Breisch, A. R., J. W. Ozard, and 1425 Atlas Contributors. 2001. New York State Amphibian and Reptile Atlas Project [online]. Available on URL: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/herp/turtles.html. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, New York.

Brown, H. A., R. B. Bury, D. M. Darda, L. V. Diller, C. R. Peterson, and R. M. Storm. 1995. Reptiles of Washington and Oregon. Seattle Audubon Society, Seattle. 176 pp.

Burke, R. L. 1997. Personal communication—Zoologist/Professor, Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York 11549.

Bury, R. B., and R. A. Luckenbach. 1976. Introduced amphibians and reptiles in California. Biological Conservation 1976(10):1-14.

Butterfield, B. P., W. E. Meshaka, Jr., and C. Guyer. 1997. Nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles. Pp. 123-138. In: D. Simberloff, D. C. Schmitz, and T. C. Brown (editors). Strangers in Paradise. Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida. Island Press, Washington, D. C. 467 pp.

Butterfield, B. P., W. E. Meshaka, Jr., and J. B. Hauge. 1994. Two turtles new to the Florida Keys. Herpetological Review 25(2):81.

Caldwell, J. P., and J. T. Collins. 1981. Turtles in Kansas. AMS Publishing, Lawrence, Kansas. 67 pp.

Cardoza, J. E., G. S. Jones, T. W. French, and D. B. Halliwell. 1993. Exotic and Translocated Vertebrates of Massachusetts. Fauna of Massachusetts Series 6. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts. 106 pp.

Campbell, J. A. 1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatán, and Belize. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma. 380 pp.

Carmichael, P., and W. Williams. 1991. Florida's Fabulous Reptiles and Amphibians. World Publications, Tampa. 120 pp.

Carpenter, C. C., and J. J. Krupa. 1989. Oklahoma Herpetology. An Annotated Bibliography. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 258 pp.

Carr, A. 1952. Handbook of Turtles. The Turtles of the United States, Canada, and Baja California. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca and London. 542 pp.

Censky, E. J., and H. Kaiser. 1999. The Lesser Antillean fauna. Pp. 181-221. In: B. I. Crother (editor). Caribbean Amphibians and Reptiles. Academic Press, San Diego. 495 pp.

Christiansen, J. L., and R. M. Bailey. 1988. The lizards and turtles of Iowa. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Technical Series (3):1-19.

Cochran, P. A., J. B. Hodgson, and R. M. Korb. 1987. New distributional records for reptiles and amphibians in Brown County, Wisconsin. Herpetological Review 18(1):21-23.

Collins, J. T. 1993. Amphibians and Reptiles in Kansas. Third Edition, Revised. Museum of Natural History, The University of Kansas, Lawrence. 397 pp.

Collins, J. T., and S. L. Collins. 1993. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cheyenne Bottoms. Hearth Publishing, Hillsboro, Kansas. 92 pp.

Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians. Eastern and Central North America. Third Edition, Expanded. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 616 pp.

Cooper, J. E. 1959. The turtle Pseudemys scripta feral in Maryland. Herpetologica 15(1):44.

Cox, M. J., P. P. van Dijk, J. Nabhitabhata, and K. Thirakhupt. 1998. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, London. 144 pp.

Crother, B.I. (chair). Committee on Standard and English and Scientific Names. 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular. No. 37. iii + 86p.

D'Alessandro, S. E., and C. H. Ernst. 1995. Additional geographic records for reptiles in Virginia. Herpetological Review 26(4):212-214.

Dalrymple, G. H. 1994. Non-indigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida. Pp. 67-78. In: D. C. Schmitz and T. C. Brown (editors). An Assessment of Invasive Non-indigenous Species in Florida's Public Lands. Division of Environmental Resource Permitting, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Technical Report No. TSS-94-100, Tallahassee. 303 pp.

Degenhardt, W. G., and J. L. Christiansen. 1974. Distribution and habitats of turtles in New Mexico. The Southwestern Naturalist 19(1):21-46.

Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. 419 pp.

DeGraaf, R. M., and D. D. Rudis. 1983. Amphibians and Reptiles of New England. Habitats and Natural History. The University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst. 85 pp.

Demlong, M. 1997. Personal communication—Herpetologist, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona.

Dixon, J. R. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas. Second Edition. Texas A & M University Press, College Station. 421 pp.

Dodd, K. 2001. Personal communication—Herpetologist, Florida Caribbean Science Center, Biological Resources Division, United States Geological Survey, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, Florida 32653.

Dundee, H. A., and D. A. Rossman. 1989. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge and London. 300 pp + unattached erratum.

Duquesnel, J. 1996. Scaly Visitors. Resource Management Notes (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tallahassee) 8(2):40.

Dvornich, K., and contributors. 2001. NatureMapping wildlife observations with the Washington Gap Analysis Project's predicted distributions. In: The NatureMapping Program in Washington [online]. Available on URL: http://www.fish.washington.edu/naturemapping/. University of Washington, Seattle.

Edgren, R. A., Jr. 1943. Pseudemys scripta troostii in Michigan. Copeia 1943(4):249.

Edgren, R. A., Jr. 1948. Some additional notes on Michigan Pseudemys. Natural History Miscellanea (Chicago) (22):1-2.

Ernst, C. H., and R. W. Barbour. 1972. Turtles of the United States and Canada. The University Press of Kentucky, Lexington. 347 pp.

Ernst, C. H., and R. W. Barbour. 1989. Turtles of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. and London. 313 pp.

Ernst, C. H., S. C. Belfit, S. W. Sekscienski, and A. F. Laemmerzahl. 1997. The amphibians and reptiles of Ft. Belvoir and northern Virginia. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 33(1):1-62.

Ernst, C. H., J. E. Lovich, and R. W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. 578 pp.

Ernst, C. H., and J. E. Lovich. 2009. Turtles of the United States and Canada. JHU Press.

Fimrite, P. 2004. Turtles battle for Marin turf: Native western pond species is being driven out of its home in Marin water district lakes. [online] 2004(May 17). Available at URL http://SFGate.com

Flores-Villela, O. 1993. Herpetofauna Mexicana. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication (17):i-iv, 1-73.

Frank, J. H., and E. D. McCoy. 1995. Introduction to insect behavioral ecology: The good, the bad, and the beautiful: Non-indigenous species in Florida. Invasive adventive insects and other organisms in Florida. Florida Entomologist 78(1):1-15.

Garrett, J. M., and D. G. Barker. 1987. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas. Texas Monthly Press, Austin. 225 pp.

Gibbons, J. W. (editor). 1990. Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. and London. 368 pp.

Gibbons, J. W., and R. D. Semlitsch. 1991. Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Savannah River Site. The University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, and London. 131 pp.

Gordon, H., and J. A. Fowler. 1961. A new locality record for Pseudemys scripta elegans in Michigan. Copeia 1961(3):350.

Green, N. B., and T. K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians and Reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh. 241 pp.

Hammerson, G. A. 1999. Amphibians and Reptiles in Colorado. Second Edition. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, Colorado. 484 pp.

Harding, J. H., and J. A. Holman. 1990. Michigan Turtles and Lizards. Department of Outreach Communications, Michigan State University, East Lansing. 94 pp.

Harding, J. H. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 378 pp.

Harris, H. S., Jr. 1975. Distributional survey (Amphibia/Reptilia): Maryland and the District of Columbia. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 11(3):73-167.

Holland, D. C. 1997. Personal communication—Herpetologist, Fallbrook, California.

Howland, J. M. 1996. Herps of Arizona. The Desert Monitor (Phoenix) 27(1):12-17.

Hudson, B., and T. J. Thornton. 1994. Reptiles & Amphibians in New Zealand: Handbook for Species Identification. Print Media Specialists, Auckland. 50 pp

Hudson, G. E. 1942. The amphibians and reptiles of Nebraska. Nebraska Conservation Bulletin (24):[i-ii], 1-145. (Reprinted 1972.)

Hulse, A. C. 1980. Notes on the occurrence of introduced turtles in Arizona. Herpetological Review 11(1):16-17.

Hulse, A. S. 1997. Personal communication—Herpetologist/Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Hutchison, A. M. 1992. A reproducing population of Trachemys scripta elegans in southern Pinellas County, Florida. Herpetological Review 23(3):74-75.

Iverson, J. B. 1992. A Revised Checklist with Distribution Maps of the Turtles of the World. John B. Iverson, Richmond, Indiana. 363 pp.

Iverson, J. [B.], P. [A.] Meylan, and M. [E.] Seidel. 2000. Testudines—turtles. Pp. 75-82. In: B. I. Crother (chair), and Committee on Standard English and Scientific Names (editors). Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular (29):i-iii, 1-82.

Johnson, T. R. 2000. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri. Revised and Expanded Second Edition. Missouri Department of Conservation, Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri, Jefferson City. 400 pp.

Jones, B. K. 1988. Distribution and habitat associations of herpetofauna in Arizona: Comparisons by habitat type. Pp. 109-128. In: R. C. Szaro, K. E. Severson, and D. R. Patton (coordinators). Management of Amphibians, Reptiles, and Small Mammals in North America. Proceedings of the Symposium. July 19-21, 1988, Flagstaff, Arizona. United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, General Technical Report RM-166, Fort Collins. 458 pp.

King, F. W. 2000. Florida Museum of Natural History's Checklist of Florida Amphibians and Reptiles [online]. Available on URL: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herps/FL-GUIDE/Flaherps.htm. Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville.

King, F. W., and R. L. Burke (editors). 1989. Crocodilian, Tuatara, and Turtle Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. The Association of Systematics Collections, Washington, DC. 216 pp.

Klemens, M. W. 1993. Amphibians and reptiles of Connecticut and adjacent regions. State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut Bulletin (112):i-xii, 1-318.

Lamar, W. W. 1997. The World's Most Spectacular Reptiles & Amphibians. World Publications, Tampa. 210 pp.

Level, J. P. 1997. A Field Guide to Reptiles and the Law. Second Revised Edition. Serpent's Tale Natural History Book Distributors, Lanesboro, Minnesota. 270 pp.

Leviton, A. E., S. C. Anderson, K. Adler, and S. A. Minton, [Jr.] 1992. Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles. Contributions to Herpetology 8. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Oxford, Ohio. 252 pp.

Liner, E. A. 1994. Scientific and common names for the amphibians and reptiles of Mexico in English and Spanish. Nombres científicos y comunes en Ingles y Españole de los anfibios y los reptiles de México. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Herpetological Circular (23):i-vi, 1-113.

Livo, L. J., G. A. Hammerson, and H. M. Smith. 1998. Summary of amphibians and reptiles introduced into Colorado. Northwestern Naturalist 79(1):1-11.

Lohoefener, R., and R. Altig. 1983. Mississippi herpetology. Mississippi State University Research Center Bulletin (1):i-vi, 1-66.

[Lue Guangyang, Du Mingzhang, and Xiang Gaoshi. 1999. Taiwan Liang Qi Pa Xing Doang Wu Tu Jian. Chu Ban. Zhonghua Min Guo Zi Ran Sheng Tai Bao Yu Xie Hui, Da Zi Ran Za Zhi She, Taibei. (A Pictorial Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Taiwan. Chu Ban. ROC & Great Nature Press, Taipei.) In Chinese]. 343 pp.

Lynch, J. D. 1985. Annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 23:33-57.

Manchester, D., Sr. 1982. Red-eared sliders in Pennsylvania. Testudo 2(1):27-30.

Martof, B. S. 1956. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia. 94 pp.

Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison III. 1980. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. 264 pp.

[Mathui, K.] 1985. [Amphibians and Reptiles of Japan. Shôgakûkau, Tokyo.] [In Japanese.] 160 pp.

McCann, J. A., L. N. Arkin, and J. D. Williams. 1996. Nonindigenous Aquatic and Selected Terrestrial Species in Florida. Status, Pathways, Dates of Introduction, Range Distributions, and Significant Ecological and Economic Effects. Florida Caribbean Science Center, U. S. Geological Survey, Gainesville. 301 pp.

McCoid, M. J. 1993. The "new" Herpetofauna of Guam, Mariana Islands. Herpetological Review 24(1):16-17.

McCoid, M. J., and C. Kleberg. 1995. Non-native reptiles and amphibians. Pp. 433-437. In: E. T. LaRoe, G. S. Farris, C. E. Puckett, P. D. Doran, and M. J. Mac (editors). Our Living Resources: A Report to the Nation on the Distribution, Abundance, and Health of U. S. Ecosystems. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Biological Service, Washington, D. C. 530 pp.

McKeown, S. 1996. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in the Hawaiian Islands. Diamond Head Publishing, Inc., Los Osos, California. 172 pp.

Meshaka, W. E., Jr., B. P. Butterfield, and J. B. Hauge. 2003 (in press). The Exotic Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida.

Minton, S. A., Jr. 2001. Amphibians & Reptiles of Indiana. Revised 2nd Edition. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. 404 pp.

Mitchell, J. C. 1994. The Reptiles of Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London. 352 pp.

Moler, P. 1988. A Checklist of Florida's Amphibians and Reptiles. Nongame Wildlife Program, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee. 18 pp.

Mount, R. H. 1975. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. 347 pp.

Murphy, J. C. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. 245 pp.

Ota, H. 1999. Introduced amphibians and reptiles of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Pp. 439-452. In: G. H. Rodda, Y. Sawai, D. Chiszar, and H. Tanaka (editors). Problem Snake Management: The Habu and the Brown Treesnake. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. 534 pp.

Overtree, L. 1997. Personal communication—Biologist, South Fork Kern River Valley research, California.

Palmer, W. M., and A. L. Braswell.1995. Reptiles of North Carolina. The University of North Carolina Press for North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences, Chapel Hill and London. 412 pp.

Phillips, C. A., R. A. Brandon, and E. O. Moll. 1999. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois. 282 pp.

Platt, S. G., and W. E. Snyder. 1996. Geographic distribution: Trachemys scripta elegans (red-eared slider). USA: South Carolina: Pickens Co. Herpetological Review 27(3):151.

Porras, L. W. 2002. Meet the locals: Your guide to backyard herping. Part four: The East. Reptiles 10(9):92-99.

Powell, R., J. T. Collins, and E. D. Hooper, Jr. 1998. A Key to Amphibians & Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence. 131 pp.

Powell, R., R. Conant, and J.T. Collins. 2016. Peterson field guide to reptiles and amphibians of eastern and central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Pritchard, P. C. H. 1979. Encyclopedia of Turtles. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune, New Jersey. 895 pp.

Pritchard, P. C. H., and P. Trebbau. 1984. The Turtles of Venezuela. Contributions to Herpetology 2. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Ithaca. 403 pp., 47 plates, 16 maps.

Salzberg, A. 2000. The cage papers. The Norway rat of the turtle world. Reptile & Amphibian Hobbyist 5(8):84.

Schaffer, H. B. 2000. Personal communication—Herpetologist, Section of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California 95616.

Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1985. A Guide to the Identification of the Amphibians and reptiles of the West Indies Exclusive of Hispaniola. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee. 165 pp.

Schwartz, A., and R. W. Henderson. 1991. Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville. 720 pp.

Schwartz, A., and R. Thomas. 1975. A check-list of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication (1):1-216.

Seidel, M. E. 1988. Revision of the West Indian emydid turtles (Testudines). American Museum Novitates (2918):1-41.

Seidel, M. E. 2002. Taxonomic observations on extant species and subspecies of slider turtles, genus Trachemys. Journal of Herpetology 36(2):285-292.

Seidel, M. E., J. N. Stuart, and W. G. Degenhardt. 1999. Variation and species status of slider turtles (Emydidae: Trachemys) in the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Herpetologica 55(4):470-487.

Sengoku, S. 1979. [Amphibians and Reptiles. Ienohikari (House of Light) Corporation, Tokyo. In Japanese.] 206 pp.

[Sievert], G., and L. Sievert. [1988]. A Field Guide to Reptiles of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Oklahoma City. 96 pp.

Smith, H. M., and E. D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. A Guide to Field Identification. Reptiles of North America. Golden Press, New York. 240 pp.

Smith, H. M., and A. J. Kohler. 1978. A survey of herpetological introductions in the United States and Canada. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 1977 80(1-2):1-24.

Smith, H. M., and R. B. Smith. 1973. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Volume II. Analysis of the Literature Exclusive of the Mexican Axolotl. John Johnson Natural History Books, North Bennington, Vermont. 367 pp.

Smith, H. M., and R. B. Smith. 1976. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Volume III. Source Analysis and Index for Mexican Reptiles. John Johnson, North Bennington, Vermont. 23 pp., Am-T, App-102, Cor-4.

Smith, H. M., and R. B. Smith. 1979. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Volume VI. Guide to Mexican Turtles. Bibliographic Addendum III. 1044 pp.

Smith, H. M., and R. B. Smith. 1993. Synopsis of the Herpetofauna of Mexico. Volume VII. Bibliographic Addendum IV and Index, Bibliographic Addenda II-IV, 1979-1991. University Press of Colorado, Niwot, Colorado. 1082 pp.

Smith, P. A. 1961. The amphibians and reptiles of Illinois. Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 28(1):[i-v], 1-298. (Reprinted 1986.)

Solis, F. 2001. Personal communication—Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Service, 3600 E. Paisano, Building A, Room 142, El Paso, Texas 79905.

Spinks, P. Q., G. B. Pauly, J. J. Crayon and H. B. Shaffer. 2003. Survival of the western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) in an urban California environment. Biological Conservation 113(2): 257-267.

Stebbins, R. C. 1972. California Amphibians and Reptiles. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London. 152 pp.

Stebbins, R. C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 336 pp.

Stein, R. J., W. K. Eames, and D. C. Parris. 1980. Geographic distribution: Chrysemys scripta elegans (red-eared slider). USA: New Jersey: Mercer Co. Herpetological Review 11(4):115.

Stevenson, H. S. 1976. Vertebrates of Florida. Identification and Distribution. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville. 607 pp.

Stuart, J. N. 1995a. Notes on the aquatic turtles of the Rio Grande drainage, New Mexico. Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 31(3):147-157.

Stuart, J. N. 1995b. Geographic distribution: Trachemys scripta scripta (yellowbelly slider). USA: New Mexico: Socorro Co. Herpetological Review 26(2):107.

Stuart, J. N. 2000. Additional notes on native and non-native turtles of the Rio Grande Drainage Basin, New Mexico. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 35(10):229-235.

Thomas, M., and P. Hartnell. 2000. An occurrence of a red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) in the Waikato River at Hamilton, New Zealand. Herpetofauna (Sydney) 30(2):15-17.

Townsend, J. H., K. L. Krysko, A. T. Reppas, and C. M. Sheehy III. 2002. Noteworthy new records for introduced reptiles and amphibians from Florida, USA. Herpetological Review 33(1):75.

Webb, R. G. 1970. Reptiles of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 370 pp.

Williams, T. 1999. The terrible turtle trade. Audubon 101(2):44, 46-48, 50-51.

Other Resources:
USGS/NAS Technical Species Profile

Turtles battle for Marin turf: Native western pond species being driven out

Trachemys scripta elegans (Global Invasive Species Database)

NOBANIS: Northern European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species

Author: Somma, L.A., Foster, A., Fuller, P. and C. Cameron

Contributing Agencies:

Revision Date: 12/2/2022

Citation for this information:
Somma, L.A., Foster, A., Fuller, P. and C. Cameron, 2023, Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied-Neuwied, 1838): U.S. Geological Survey, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL, and NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System, Ann Arbor, MI, https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/greatlakes/FactSheet.aspx?Species_ID=1261&Potential=N&Type=0&HUCNumber=All%20Great%20Lakes, Revision Date: 12/2/2022, Access Date: 6/5/2023

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.