Specie's Page                                               South America - Red-eared Terrapin

Red-eared Terrapin:

UK Status: Non native, though can be seen in the wild, as well as zoos, wildlife parks and tropical houses in the UK.

Habitat: The terrapins natural range is from the mid western USA southwards into Mexico. They are found in pools, lakes, swamps, streams and slow moving rivers. This terrapin requires still, slow running warm waters. They originate from the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.

Breeding: This terrapin starts it's mating rituals between March and July, and mating takes place underwater. They don't reach sexual maturity until they are five years old, and although the ritual lasts about forty five minutes, copulation takes just ten minutes. Females excavate a hole in which to lay their eggs, there is from two to thirty eggs per clutch, and females can have up to five, or six clutches per year.

Comment: This terrapin is also know as the Red-eared Slider. Because of it's popularity as a pet, and having been released into the wild, it has become established in many places where it is not native. Often out competing with native species it has become an invasive species in many of these areas.