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Basking Red-eared slider

Red-eared slider in an artificial lake at Margit-island.

(photo: Zsolt Újvári)

A North-American and potentially INVASIVE species, which reached Hungary via the pet trade. Specimens in the wild are released by hobbyists. Differs from European pond turtle in its “red ear”, a red blotch behind each eye, and longitudinal yellow or creamy-white stripes on legs and tail. As a potential invasive, trading of RED-EARED SLIDER (Trachemys scripta elegans) has been banned in Hungary, but its usually smaller relative, the YELLOW-BELLIED SLIDER (Trachemys scripta scripta) has replaced it in the pet trade. The ‘ear’ of the latter is yellow.

Both subspecies can survive in Hungarian waters, and can outcompete the European pond turtle at basking plots and in the search for food. Released terrapins may carry pathogens and parasites posing a significant threat to the European pond turtle.

Distibution map by our National Herpetological Mapping Program:

Basking sliders

Larger non-native sliders may dominate better basking sites, adversely affecting local pond turtles.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking red-eared sliders

Their red ear patch makes them easily recognisable.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking sliders

Basking groups of non-native sliders can be observed often in several natural habitats.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking sliders

Collected or unwanted sliders are accepted by Budapest Zoo, where they get accommodated most likely in the Big-Lake.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking Red-eared slider

Red-eared slider in an artificial lake at Margit-island.

(photo: Zsolt Újvári)

Basking Red-eared sliders

Red-eared sliders in an artificial lake at Margit-island.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Yellow-bellied slider portrait

Ear patch of Yellow-bellied sliders is less visible.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Yellow-bellied slider

Young Yellow-bellied slider found in Feneketlen-lake of Budapest.

(photo: Szilvia Daru)

Yellow-bellied slider

Young Yellow-bellied slider found in Feneketlen-lake of Budapest.

(photo: Szilvia Daru)

Red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders

On this picture you can see the visible characteristic difference between the two subspecies.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Basking yellow-bellied slider

Yellow-bellied sliders are more and more common sights in natural water bodies.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)

Egg-laying Red-eared slider

Adult females, living outdoor in Budapest Zoo lay eggs regularly. These nests are usually destroyed, but annually few hatchlings are always observed. We have no knowledge of regular reproduction in natural habitats of Hungary, although we received a few observations of breeding.

(photo: Bálint Halpern)