Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans (Schoepff, 1792)Non-native  -  Invasive    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Testudines   >   Family Emydidae   >   Genus Trachemys   

Status:

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a non-native species, now widely distributed in Maryland due to frequent irresponsible releases of pet turtles. This subspecies is native to the Mississippi valley region, ranging west into Texas. It occurs widely in ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers with aquatic plants and a mud bottom. Sliders are frequently seen basking on logs or rocks, often with other species of turtles. Red-eared Sliders are now found through much of northern and central Maryland (Maryland DNR site). There are numerous records from other parts of the state, but it may not be established and reproducing in all areas.

There are 1,257 records in the project database.

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GAAL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HA CE PG AA CV CH SM KE QA CN TADO WI SOWO 
A Red-eared Slider in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/23/2012). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Cecil Co., Maryland (6/17/2019). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Howard Co., Maryland (6/25/2019). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Harford Co., Maryland (5/23/2014). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/23/2012). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Howard Co., Maryland (6/30/2011). Photo by Jon Corcoran. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/25/2020). (c) dtread1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (5/3/2013). Photo by Angela Trenkle. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/19/2016). Photo by Matthew Beziat. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (3/12/2021). (c) jakeschneider00, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jakeschneider00 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Red-eared Slider laying eggs in Howard Co., Maryland (7/5/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Howard Co., Maryland (6/20/2021). (c) gabriel819, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by gabriel819 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Harford Co., Maryland (8/25/2020). (c) jherb, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jherb via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (1/30/2023). (c) Dan Treadwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Howard Co., Maryland (5/8/2016). Photo by Dean Mahlstedt. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/15/2023). (c) Dan Treadwell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Howard Co., Maryland (6/22/2017). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/1/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

A young Red-eared Slider (Red-eared Turtle) at Lilypons Water Gardens, Frederick Co., Maryland (9/14/2008). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A young Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/4/2010). Photo by Philip Brody. (MBP list)

A Red-eared Slider in Harford Co., Maryland (4/18/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/29/2018). Photo by Bonnie Bell. (MBP list)

A juvenile Red-eared Slider in Kent Co., Maryland (5/30/2016). Photo by Matt Redman. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider (underside of juvenile) in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/14/2019). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Red-eared Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/21/2020). (c) dtread1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An intergrade Red-eared x Yellow-bellied Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/1/2022). (c) dtread1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An intergrade Red-eared x Yellow-bellied Slider in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/1/2022). (c) dtread1, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by dtread1 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/.

View Bibliography