Common name : Red-eared terrapin, Yellow-bellied slider turtle
Scientific name : Trachemys scripta elegans
Family : Emydidae
Native to : United States and Mexico
Interesting fact : Sliders are known for their tendency to slide quickly into water from trees or logs where they bask.
Conservation status : Near Threatened
The most popular turtle pet is the red-eared slider. They love swimming and basking in the sun to keep themselves warm. It has a prominent red-patch near the ear and its olive brown shell and skin are covered in yellow lines. Living in freshwater bodies adults are vegetarians eating aquatic plants while the young ones are carnivores.
