Yellowbelly Slider
(Trachemys s. scripta)
Photo Courtesy of World Chelonia Trust
Yellowbelly sliders are about 5 to 11 inches in length, with a large yellow spot behind the eye. There are also wide vertical stripes present on the carapace. The plastron is yellow with round dusky smudges. The yellowbelly slider also has narrow yellow stripes on the front legs.
Like the red eared slider, the yellowbelly slider has been introduced to New York State and has been reported only on Long Island so far. When yellowbelly sliders are released to the wild they will often occupy the environment that would be occupied by a native turtle. Introduced species always cause problems for native wildlife and should be avoided at all costs. It is because or released species that many native species become endangered or even extinct. If you have an unwanted slider please find a home for it. If that is not possible you may surrender the animal to the Erie County SPCA or your local SPCA or Humane Society.
Yellowbelly sliders can often be found basking on logs or stumps in or near water. They can often be seen stacked on top of each other while basking. When threatened yellowbelly sliders will dive or "slide" back into the water quickly to avoid predators. They will usually sleep at night underwater resting on the bottom. They will sometimes be floating on the surface. Yellowbelly sliders will inflate their throat to aid in flotation.