Common Slider
Source: U. S.
Geological Survey/photo by Chris Brown
Scientific Name: Trachemys scripta
Family: Emydidae
Size: 5.9 to 11.8 inches
Description: The upper part of the shell (carapace) is olive-green or black with streaks of yellow. The head and legs are dark-colored with yellow stripes. Behind the eyes, there is a wide streak of bright red, orange, or yellow.
Diet: Common sliders eat aquatic insects, snails, tadpoles, crawfish, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and aquatic plants.
Habitat: The Common slider lives in artificial or natural bodies of water with areas of shelter including river banks, rocks and logs.
Status: This species is not listed as a special status species.
Interesting Information: The Common slider, a species indigenous to the eastern U.S., is commonly bred and sold as pets. In GGNRA, this introduced (exotic) species occurs primarily due to pet abandonment.
References:
California
Wildlife Habitat Relationships System. California Department of
Fish and Game.
