Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Red-Eared Slider Laying Eggs

We saw this female turtle this morning. She was apparently laying eggs. She made a mud hole on the dry pasture by a pond and stay still even when she saw us approaching.

"Red Eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) get their name from the distinctive red mark around their ear. The Slider part of their name comes from their ability to slide off rocks and logs and into the water very quickly." - Wikipedia on Red Eared Sliders.

"Red-eared Sliders are almost entirely aquatic, but leave the water to bask in the sun and lay eggs. These reptiles are deceptively fast and are also excellent swimmers. They hunt for prey and will attempt to capture it when the opportunity presents itself. They are very aware of predators and people and generally shy away from them. In fact, the Red-eared Slider frantically slides off rocks and logs when approached." - Wikipedia on Red Eared Sliders - Behavior.






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