Yellow-Bellied Slider Turtle

A Tortoise Native to the United States

In the United States, there are three subspecies of Trachemys, each with different colors, particularly around the temples. T. scripta scripta, or the yellow-bellied slider, is often incorrectly referred to as the Florida turtle.

These turtles are called "sliders" in English due to their aquatic behavior when threatened, sliding into the water while basking on logs near the banks.

As juveniles, they are primarily carnivorous but transition to an almost entirely herbivorous diet later in life.

These turtles have been widely sold as pets in the United States and Europe over the past 30 years.

The use of antibiotics in breeding farms led to the development of resistant strains of Salmonella, often found in these reptiles. After millions were imported, their sale was banned in Europe in 1997 for this reason and because many were released into the wild (illegally), creating competition with an endemic species, the European pond turtle.

Click here to discover and visit the A Cupulatta tortoise park near Ajaccio.