Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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Field Guide to Maryland's Turtles (Order Testudines)


Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)

Common Name:

​Yellow-bellied Slider

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​Yellow belledSlider on a log
​Yellow-bellied Slider photo by John White

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Size: 5 - 8 inches; record 11 ⅞ inches

Appearance:
  • The yellow-bellied slider has yellow head blotches and vertical yellow bars on the carapace. The head markings can become hard to distinguish on older males.
  • Has round, dark splotches on the underside of the marginals (scales on the edges of the shell).
  • Has vertical stripes on the back of the hindlimbs resembling “striped pants”.

Habitats:

Traditionally found in rivers, ditches, and lakes.


How to Find:

This is an introduced species. Please report any suspected findings to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Please include a photograph and location of find.


Distribution in Maryland:

Introduced species.​