NATURAL HISTORY OF RED EARED TERRAPINS

DISTRIBUTION AND NAMES

Red eared terrapins originate from the eastern USA and southwards into Mexico.They also occur in introduced populations in other parts of the USA including Los Angeles where they have been seen living in park ponds. In the UK colonies have been reported from Aldershot to York. Red ears belong to the large turtle family Emydidae and are a subspecies of the Trachemys scripta complex.Their Latin name Trachemys scripta elegans is reflected in the fact that in many older text books they are referred to as elegant terrapins. The red ears from which they are popularly named are not present in every case since the creatures have a habit of interbreeding in the wild with other terrapin types. Even when present the red ears are sometimes broken up into several spots. What is not in doubt is that they are called sliders on account of their habit of "sliding" swiftly into the water at the approach of danger.

SEX AND BREEDING

The main differences between male and female red eared terrains are that the females tend to be larger while the males have longer foreclaws and a slightly indented plastron. The mating ritual involves the male vibrating his claws in the female's face, followed by more boisterous activity during which biting may take place. Several clutches of eggs are laid each year.

HEALTH AND LIFE EXPECTANCY

Red ears are subject to a number of diseases arising from poor diet and environmental causes. These may include shell and bone disorders, respiratory problems and salmonellosis.However given good fortune they may reach up to 0.3m in length and live for up to 25 years.

RECOMMENDED READING

There are a number of popular books on red eared terrapins. Highly recommended is The General Care and Maintenance of Red Eared Sliders by Philippe de Vosjoli published by Advanced Vivarium Systems Lakeside CA 92040 USA in 1992 and Your First Terrapin by David Green published by Kingdom Books in the UK in 1996. Also worth looking out for are The Red Eared Slider by Michael J Connor, published in the Tortoise Trust Newsletter for 1992 and Conservation of Red Eared Terrapins by C Warwick in Testudo (the Journal of the British Chelonia Group) volume 3, number 3 , 1991.

Click here to read about the background to red ears in Britain