David Element
Wildlife
Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________Reptiles
9 - Red-eared Terrapins
RED-EARED SLIDER Trachemys scripta elegans
- The Red-eared
Slider or Terrapin Trachema
scripta elegans is an alien species of American origin which has been
artificially introduced to Britain , predominantly as a consequence of the
"Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtle" craze. This led to a huge increase
in the keeping of terrapins and turtles as pets and many of these animals
were subsequently released into the wild where they have had a deleterious
effect upon native species. The example shown was found in a pond on an
Outer London Common where the species appears to be thriving. The shell is
probably more than 25cm in length.
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