Help with identifying

[tortoise5643]

I don't know where this is supposed to be. But I found a turtle in a nearby pond. I kept him for now because he looks different than most turtles I find around here. I'm going to release him back as long as he is native. I don't want to keep him but I wanted to make sure he was native before releasing him. If he's not I will gold a home to give him to. Here are pictures.

 

[Yvonne G]

Where are you (so we can know if it's native or not)? Looks a bit like a slider, but without more pictures I can't make a good guess.

 

[Anthony P]

Looks like a melanistic slider. The structure of the front legs, marginals and jaw all look slider. What state are you in?

 

[tortoise5643]

Sorry I am in Texas. Dallas area. It wouldn't bring its head out for a picture but it doesn't have red ears like a red eared slider would. More pictures coming..

 

[tortoise5643]

He is not cooperative.

 

[Anthony P]

Yeah, when male sliders age, they become melanistic, which is a condition where they contain more melanin, or color, in the skin. This grey to black coloration, which is normally a marbled pattern, can completely drown out the normal markings of a RES, including the red ears. This is actually quite common in older Sliders.

 

[diamondbp]

Yep it's an old melanistic red eared slider

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I have a male melanistic Red Eared Slider! He is a sweetie, very cute and calm.