Reptiles of North Carolina

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

NC Records
Emydidae Members:
Trachemys scripta - Pond Slider

Photo: Steve Hall

Taxonomy

Class: Reptilia

Order: Testudines

Family: Emydidae

Subfamily: Deirochelyinae

Other Common Name(s): Yellow-bellied Slider


Taxonomic Comments: One of two species that occurs in North American north of Mexico; other members of this genus are widespread in Central and South America (Seidel, 2002). Only Trachemys scripta occurs in North Carolina.
Species Comments: Three subspecies are currently recognized. Trachemys s. scripta and T. s. troosti are both native to North Carolina and T. s. elegans has been widely introduced. Intergrades between scripta and elegans are now found extensively throughout the state.

Identification

Basis for Records: The three subspecies can usually be identified in photographs from their characteristic markings. Old adults whose patterns have darkened may be difficult to separate from similarly melanized individuals of Pseudemys.

Field Marks: See individual subspecies

Morphological Features: The carapaces of Trachemys are longitudinally rugose, notched and serrated posteriorly, and usually keeled (Smith and Seidel, 1986). This contrasts with Chrysemys, where the keel and serrations are absent. The carapaces of adult Pseudemys are also smoother and the posterior margin notched rather than deeply serrated. In specimens that can be closely examined, the ventral surface of the lower jaw is rounded in Trachemys but flat in Pseudemys, and the cutting edge is smooth rather than serrated. Inside the mouth, the upper surface (alveolar) is narrow, and tuberculate denticles are absent on the alveolar surface of the upper jaw in Trachemys but are prominent in Pseudemys.

Males have long claws on the forefeet and longer and thicker tails than in the females.

Technical Reference: Seidel and Smith (1986); Ernst and Lovich (2009)

Online Photos: Google iNaturalist GBIF

Distribution in North Carolina

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.

Key Habitat Requirements

Life History and Autecology

General Ecology

Adverse Environmental Impacts

Status in North Carolina

NHP State Rank: S5

Global Rank: G5

Photo Gallery for Trachemys scripta - Pond Slider		17 photos are shown.
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Stanly Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Anson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Anson Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jessica Tate Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jessica Tate Forsyth Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Jessica Tate Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jessica Tate Forsyth Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Cabarrus Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Orange Co. Comment: Juvenile intergrade next to female scripta scripta.	Recorded by: Travis McLain Mecklenburg Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Hyde Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Dare Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Iredell Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Steve Hall Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Steve Hall Durham Co. Comment:	Recorded by: Travis McLain Randolph Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Travis McLain Randolph Co. Comment:

Trachemys scripta - Pond Slider

Photo Gallery for Trachemys scripta - Pond Slider

17 photos are shown.