Trachemys venusta venusta

(Gray, 1855)

Vernacular names
English : Meso-American slider
French : Emyde Méso-Américaine

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Family : Emydidae
Notes : 3 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a shell length of 30 cm for a weight of 3 kg, sometimes more. Shell domed, grey-brown with dark-edged ring markings fading with age. Neck and head olive green with alternating broad and thin orange-yellow bands.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in Central and extreme northern South America. This subspecies is found in most of southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. Lives in rivers, swamps and lakes with aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, lowlands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Appendix II
Status : The species is still locally common but declines have been observed because of water pollution, disturbance, habitat loss and overexploitation.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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