Yellow-bellied slider

Trachemys scripta scripta

The yellow-bellied slider is a subspecies of the North American pond slider. Its natural range extends from south-eastern Virginia to northern Florida.

Sliders are semi-aquatic turtles native to North America and inhabit calm bodies of water such as lakes, ponds and slow-moving rivers. They spend much of their time basking on rocks or logs to regulate their body temperature. As omnivores, they feed on aquatic plants, insects and small animals. Females grow larger than males and can store sperm after mating, allowing them to fertilise eggs over an extended period. Males have unusually long claws on their front feet, which they use during courtship by rapidly vibrating them in front of the female.