Facts about Red-Eared Slider

1. 06

   Hatchling red-eared sliders measure only 1 to 1.3 inches in shell diameter at birth and require 5 to 8 years to reach sexual maturity.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14sharebiologyreproductiongrowth
2. 05

   Red-eared sliders bask for 2 to 8 hours daily to regulate body temperature and absorb ultraviolet B radiation essential for calcium metabolism and shell health.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14sharebehaviorbiologythermoregulation
3. 04

   Native to the Mississippi River basin, red-eared sliders were introduced to Europe and Asia through the pet trade beginning in the 1950s and now inhabit every continent except Antarctica.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14sharegeographyhuman-impactdistribution
4. 03

   A red-eared slider's distinctive red ear patches are actually extensions of the tympanum that darken and fade with age in older individuals.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14shareanatomyagingbiology
5. 02

   The red-eared slider can live 20 to 40 years in captivity, with some individuals documented surviving over 50 years.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14sharelifespanbiologymeasurement
6. 01

   Females of the red-eared slider species typically reach 8 to 12 inches in shell length, while males remain smaller at 5 to 8 inches.

   Red-Eared SliderMay 14sharebiologymeasurementsexual-dimorphism