Red Eared Terrapin
May 4th, 2009 | 
Author: Scientific name:Trachemys scripta elegans
Continent: North America, South America
Diet: Fish- piscivore, insects- insectivore, water plants
Food & feeding: Omnivore
Habitats: Freshwater
Conservation status: Near Threatened.
Description: This is a sleek turtle, with webbed feet and a red stripe down each side of the head. The carapace (upper shell) is patterned with yellow and green markings. They reach a maximum size of around 25 cm.
Lifestyle: The red-eared terrapin inhabits still or slow flowing water with thick underwater vegetation. Primarily active during the day, it likes to haul out onto land, roots or floating logs to soak up the sun’s heat.
Family & friends: It is very gregarious and lives and sunbathes in large groups.
Keeping in touch: The male has very long front claws and the courtship behaviour involves him swimming in front of the female and tickling her chin. The female usually lays eggs once a year, sometimes twice.
Growing up: The clutch averages about 15 eggs but can be anything from 2-22 eggs. She excavates a pit where she lays the eggs at intervals of three to ten minutes. She then covers the pit and leaves them to develop. Hatching occurs after about three months, or less if conditions are warmer.
Red-eared terrapins like to bask in the sun and moorhen or coot nests by the water are ideal basking platforms. Unfortunately though, turtles clambering onto nests can partially submerge these fragile nests, killing the eggs and chicks.
Popularity: 1% [?]
