| Red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider | |
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Scientific classification
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Subfamily: | Deirochelyinae |
| Genus: | Trachemys |
| Species: | T. scripta |
| Hybrid: | T. s. elegans × T. s. scripta |
The red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta elegans × Trachemys scripta scripta) is an intergradation of a red-eared slider and yellow-bellied slider subspecies. Intergrade facial markings range from a yellow blotch behind each eye, which may join a yellow neck stripe forming a “C” figure when viewed from the left side to those with an almost indistinguishable amount of red in the eye blotch, to individuals that look similar to red-eared sliders with a red “ear” stripe that doesn’t join with a yellow neck stripe (see attached pictures). In addition, the number of black blotches on the plastron (underside of shell) varies in intergrades from two on the front scutes which is typical of yellow-bellied sliders, to a dark blotch on each scute which is typical of red-eared sliders. Intergrades are presumed to be omnivorous, but hatchlings and juveniles are more carnivorous than adults.
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Intergrade of red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider
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Intergrade of red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider
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Intergrade of red-eared slider × yellow-bellied slider
References
- Hybrid Red-eared Slider, YellowBelly Slider Project Noah
- Managing non-native wildlife in Florida: State perspective, policy and practice p47
- d'Orgeix, C. A., and E. N. Sismour. 2009. Trachemys scripta scripta (Yellow-bellied Slider) x T. S. elegans (Red-eared slider). Herpetological Review. 40: 363
- Ernst, C. H., and Lovich, J. E. 2009. Turtles of the United States and Canada. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
External links
- Variation and Species Status of Slider Turtles (Emydidae: Trachemys) in the Southwestern United States and Adjacent Mexico
- Hybrid Red Eared Slider X Yellow Belly Slider at YouTube
| Turtle hybridisation | |
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