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Red-eared slider

Trachemys scripta · Turtles · Reptiles

Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta): Bright red horizontal streak behind each eye. Shell 10-29 cm, greenish-yellow to gray, brown or black, rough and indented; plastron usually yellow with dark spots. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the red-eared slider map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Two red-eared sliders basking on a log
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Scientific name
Trachemys scripta
Family
Emydidae
In North America
Native
Range
Native from Michigan to Argentina, east of New Mexico. Established outside its range in many areas including Florida, New York and New Mexico; Animal Diversity Web also lists Canada.
Biology

How to identify it

Bright red horizontal streak behind each eye. [1][2]

Shell 10-29 cm, greenish-yellow to gray, brown or black, rough and indented; plastron usually yellow with dark spots. [1][2]

Females larger than males. [1][2]

Older males may turn melanistic (darker). [1][2]

Compared with the painted turtle: Two yellow patches behind each eye instead of the slider's single red streak (per Animal Diversity Web). [1][2]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Confirm a red-eared slider before you act. Compared with the painted turtle: Two yellow patches behind each eye instead of the slider's single red streak (per Animal Diversity Web).[1][2]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Quiet water with abundant aquatic vegetation, soft bottom and basking sites; tolerant of pollution. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Primarily diurnal; basks on sunny days and is gregarious [1][2]

Juveniles mostly carnivorous; adults omnivorous [1][2]

Generally inactive in winter in the north [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for removal or nuisance take

These authorities list this species as nuisance, invasive or unprotected wildlife that may be taken. This is not a game season.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Native from Michigan to Argentina, east of New Mexico. Established outside its range in many areas including Florida, New York and New Mexico; Animal Diversity Web also lists Canada.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. NatureServe · reviewed 2026-09-30

    NatureServe

  2. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30

    University of Michigan Museum of Zoology