Nicaraguan slider
Species of turtle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nicaraguan slider (Trachemys emolli)[1] is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is indigenous to Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
| Nicaraguan slider | |
|---|---|
| |
| Trachemys emolli | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Genus: | Trachemys |
| Species: | T. emolli |
| Binomial name | |
| Trachemys emolli | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
Taxonomy
Formerly the Nicaraguan slider was considered a subspecies of Trachemys scripta, but was elevated to its own species level by Seidel in 2002.[1] In 2021 it was considered a subspecies of T. grayi by the Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG).[3]
Etymology
The subspecific name, emolli, is in honor of American herpetologist Edward Moll (E. Moll).[4]
Geographic range
The Nicaraguan slider is native to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and is found in places such as Lake Nicaragua, Lake Managua, and the lakes and streams that connect them.[5]
Characteristics
The Nicaraguan slider has a carapace with many circular markings on it, and in the middle of each marking, there is a dark spot. The main color of the carapace and the turtle's skin is olive green to dark brown. It also has yellow markings on it as well. The supratemporal markings can be orange, pink, or yellow. Males averagely grow to 8–12 in (20–30 cm) straight carapace length, and females can averagely grow to 15 in (38 cm) or larger.[5]
Biology
The Nicaraguan slider likes its water to be around mid-70s to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees Celsius). As far as basking goes, it likes its basking area to be in the high 80s to mid-90s degrees Fahrenheit (30 to 35 degrees Celsius).[5]
