Characteristics:
     Medium sized turtle with a carapace length of almost a foot. Shell is olive-green with black and yellow lines. The Plastron is yellow with a dark spot on each scute. A bright red or orange mark behind the eye is the distinguishing characteristic of this turtle. Their head is dark marked with yellow stripes.

*Note: Pond sliders in this area are considered to be the red-eared slider (T. s. elegans), a subspecies of the pond slider.

Habitat:
   Nearly any aquatic habitat. Commonly seen sunning on logs or rock in and around lakes and rivers.


Behavior:
    The behavior of this turtle is very similar to the painted turtle. They often share logs while basking and eat nearly the same things. Nesting season is in early summer.

Personal Remarks:
    We see these guys in all the same places as the painted turtles. There is a spot there the road goes over a farm irrigation ditch that is absolutley full of pond sliders and painted turtles. They are an easy catch with a cast out net.