Found Turtle

[Jennifer M]

This turtle was found on our playground at school today. Of course they call me to come. Our playground is fenced in so not exactly sure how he got in. He was feisty and had long nails. I moved him across the road from the school. There is a pond in the woods that way so I hope that's where he was headed.

 

[Yvonne G]

I can't see the neck, but it looks to be a red ear slider. For sure it's a water turtle.

 

[wellington]

Glad you didn't try keeping it. I'm sure it appreciated the lift out of the screaming kids grounds lol. I'm sure he either wanted the water/pond or a place to dig in for a nice nap.

 

[the Turtle Shepherd]

I can't see the neck, but it looks to be a red ear slider. For sure it's a water turtle.

not a slider, they have different eyes and face, i have a pair i was pondering this one too cant wait to hear the breed

 

[Clamhandsmcgee]

My guess would be a wood turtle. It's hard to tell without seeing its head neck and legs.

 

[Jennifer M]

Not sure what he is. I was told a yellow bellied slider.

 

[Markw84]

Pretty sure that is a male red ear slider. The scute shapes and layout are Trachemys. The head and what I can see of the shell pattern looks like a melanistic slider. You can see the long nails of the front left foot. Male Red Ear. Trachemys scripta elegans. Would need a head and neck shot to be 100% but pretty sure from what I see.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

This is not my area (what is?) but I want to play, anyway.
I think it's a red-eared slider, too, seen photos of ones with a similar carapace structure.
Anyway, thanks for posting, he's lovely.

 

[the Turtle Shepherd]

ok, perhaps you are all right, though i have two, mine looking nothing like it, but they are both captive, so their head shape is entirely different, nature she is awesome though and he is a beauty

 

[Melis]

ok, perhaps you are all right, though i have two, mine looking nothing like it, but they are both captive, so their head shape is entirely different, nature she is awesome though and he is a beauty

I have a male red ear as well. Head and eyes are very different than that pic

 

[tglazie]

There's an enormous amount of variation concerning red ears. I am consistently astounded how different native forms are between the states. My favorite is the South Texas form; absolutely beautiful. Definitely a Trachemys, and I could buy that it is a yellow belly, but I'd have to see the plastron, the head, and the neck.

T.G.

 

[cdmay]

Trachemys scripta...older male. Could be either an elegans as was mentioned above, or scripta scripta, the yellow bellied turtle.
Depends on the location of origin.
The males of both red eared and yellow bellied sliders look extremely similar as they age and become melanistic.

 

[Alex Z]

Looks like a semi-aquatic turtle...not at all like a slider...or even a yellowbelly...

 

[cdmay]

Looks like a semi-aquatic turtle...not at all like a slider...or even a yellowbelly...

True, sometimes old Trachemys (American pond sliders) do indeed look very different from our usual notion of what they're supposed to look like.
Their shells get a sculptured, or wrinkled look to them (called 'rugosity') that makes them appear terrestrial.

 

[Gillian M]

A lovely turtle! That's all I can say, I'm afraid.

 

[Markw84]

Since a lot of responses seem to not have seen melanistic Trachemys, I though I would post the best picture I could find of a melanistic male (bottom) next to a female on top. Trachemys scripta elegans Not a large image, but you can still see how similar to the one above...

 

[cdmay]

Thanks Mark. Nicely illustrated.