Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

Can anyone help with a specific I.D. of this turtle (both Genus & species)?

Photographed in the Homosassa River, Old Homosassa, Florida in June 2005.

I've consulted the Peterson Field Guide and I suspect some type of Mud Turtle, but can't be sure.

I've got another species needs identifying but can't figure out how to include 2 pictures on this posting so I'll start another thread.

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[email}d.mangham@virgin.net[/email]

That is actually a red-eared slider; a melanistic red- eared slider. Most likely pretty old, too.

J.L.

Good call..definitely an old male melanistic slider.
~Mike

That is an old male yellow bellied turtle, T. scripta scripta. They are similar to red-eared sliders but since yellow bellieds are native to that part of Florida I would go with that one.

Thanks 'Mayday', my 'SOS' for an I.D. has obviously produced results.

As you will be aware, there's been a previous shout of t. scripta elegans, but I think, looking at the illustration on plate 7 of Petersons guide to Eastern Central North America that the pattern on the marginals of the upper shell seem to correspond more to scripta scripta.

Thanks for the help.

Dave
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[email}d.mangham@virgin.net[/email]