Franco Banfi / Freshwater turtle (Trachemys scripta venusta) swimming amongst Water lilies leaves, Gran Cenote, near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Tim Fitzharris / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) turtle, North America

Konrad Wothe / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) turtle, pair in pond, City Park, Munich, Germany

Cyril Ruoso / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Grass snake (Natrix natrix) basking on log. Seine et Marne, Ile-de-France. May.

Franco Banfi / Freshwater turtle (Trachemys scripta venusta) swimming under Water lilies leaves, Gran Cenote, Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Franco Banfi / Freshwater turtle (Trachemys scripta venusta) swimming in Gran Cenote, near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Franco Banfi / Freshwater turtle (Trachemys scripta venusta) swimming in Gran Cenote, near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

David Perpinan / Phallus/penile prolapse in a captive Yellow bellied slider (Trachemys scripta). Small repro only

David Perpinan / Radiography of a captive female red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) showing eggs within the uterus. Captive animal. Small repro only

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in blue-green algae (Woronichinia naegeliana). Microcystin produced is toxic to wildlife and humans. Maryland. October 2018.

Alex Mustard / Freshwater terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans) in a garden pond. Dauin, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines.

Doug Wechsler / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) and Painted turtle (Chrysemy picata) basking on log, Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, April.

Tony Wu / Red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) invasive species, probably introduced through the pet trade, Kanagawa, Japan, April.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider, (Trachemys scripta) in water, old melanistic individual, Maryland, USA, August.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider, (Trachemys scripta) in water, old melanistic individual, Maryland, USA, August.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider, (Trachemys scripta), Maryland, USA, May.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in rain, Louisiana, USA.

John Cancalosi / Painted turtle (Chrysemys scripta) eating algae off the carapace of a Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Maryland, USA, August.

Laurent Geslin / Red eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) Strasbourg, France, June.

Laurent Geslin / Red eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in urban park, Grenoble, France, April.

Nate Chappell/ BIA / Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) male with basking Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) pair, Washington

Cyril Ruoso / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) close up portrait, South Texas, USA, April.

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Red-eared Slider Turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, with algae on shell, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican slider turtle / terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta) in sinkhole, Cenote Carwash, near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, January

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Virginia, USA, June.

Pascal Kobeh / Mesoamerican Slider (Trachemys scripta venusta) hiding in the plants at the surface of the cenote, Car Wash Cenote / Aktun Ha, Mexico. Yucatan peninsula.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) female laying eggs, Louisiana, USA, May.

Steve Gettle / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) turtle, North America

MYN / Seth Patterson / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) juvenile viewed from above, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States of America, North America, September. Meety...

MYN / Seth Patterson / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) juvenile viewed from above, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States of America, North America, September. Meety...

MYN / Seth Patterson / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) juvenile portrait, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States of America, North America, September. Meetyourneighb...

MYN / Seth Patterson / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) juvenile portrait, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States of America, North America, September. Meetyourneighb...

MYN / Seth Patterson / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) juvenile profile, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Cameron County, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, United States of America, North America, September. Meetyourneighbo...

Cyril Ruoso / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) turtle surfacing in rain, southern Texas

Aflo / Red eared terrapin / Red eared slider (Trachemys scripta) sitting on rock in pond in the rain, Kiyose, Tokyo, Kanto Region, Japan, June

Eric Baccega / Two Red-eared slider / turtle, one on the other one (Trachemys scripta elegans) captive, Alsace, France

Eric Baccega / Red-eared slider / turtle basking on submerged branch (Trachemys scripta elegans) captive, Alsace, France

Eric Baccega / Red-eared slider / turtle basking on submerged branch (Trachemys scripta elegans) captive, Alsace, France

Eric Baccega / Red-eared slider / turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) basking on submerged branch one with mouth open, captive, Alsace, France

Eric Baccega / Red-eared slider / turtle basking on submerged branch (Trachemys scripta elegans) Captive, Alsace, France

Claudio Contreras / Mesoamerican Slider Turtle / Terrapin (Trachemys scripta venusta). Cenote Angelita, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Red-eared slider / turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) two adults basking in sun on a log, Dinero, Lake Corpus Christi, South Texas, USA.

Gerrit Vyn / Red eared pond sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) basking on submerged log, Cameron Parrish, Louisiana, USA. December

Pete Oxford / Colombian pond slider (Trachemys scripta callirostris) Botanical Gardens, Medellin, Antioquia Province, Columbia, captive

Ernie Janes / Heron (Ardea cinerea) beside a Red eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta) basking in Regents Park, London, UK, Summer

Pete Oxford / Columbian Slider (Trachemys scripta callirostris) turtle pair basking, Medellin, Colombia

Pete Oxford / Columbian Slider (Trachemys scripta callirostris) turtle group basking, Medellin, Colombia

Pete Oxford / Slider (Trachemys scripta) in water. Coba, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Pete Oxford / Slider (Trachemys scripta) in water. Coba, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Robin Chittenden / Red-eared terrapin (Trachemys / Pseudemys scripta) entering the water after sunning on rock, Kos, Greece. May

Michael Durham / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) young turtle swimming in water, central Texas

Michael Durham / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) young turtle swimming in water, central Texas

Jasper Doest / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) near pond, George West, Texas

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtles (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of their eggs, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Kerstin Hinze / Red-eared Turtle (Psuedemys / Trachemys scripta elegans) hatching out of its egg, captive

Michael & Patricia Fogden / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) immature juvenile, North America

Edwin Giesbers / Red eared turtle / slider (Trachemys / Pseudemys scripta elegans), Costa Rica

Rolf Nussbaumer / Red-eared Slider / turtle {Pseudemys / Trachemys scripta elegans} adult in stream, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Red-eared Slider / turtle {Pseudemys / Trachemys scripta elegans} juvenile in stream, Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Tom Vezo / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) in pond, Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Ingo Arndt / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) in duckweed, North America

Ingo Arndt / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) in duckweed, North America

Ingo Arndt / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) in pond, North America

Ingo Arndt / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) with reflection in pond, North America

Tony Phelps / Red eared slider / turtle {Trachemys / Pseudemys scripta elegans} captive

Tony Phelps / Red eared slider / turtle {Trachemys / Pseudemys scripta elegans} captive, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Red eared Turtle / Slider / Terrapin {Trachemys scripta elegans} head at water surface, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA.

Dan Burton / Head portrait of Terrapin {Pseudemys elegans} captive

Patricio Robles Gil / Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) turtle, basking on a log in the Corona River, Tamaulipas state, northeast Mexico

Gerry Ellis / Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) turtle, portrait, in water, North America

Doug Wechsler / Yellow bellied turtle, male {Chrysemys scripta} Pea Is NWR, North Carolina, USA

Pete Oxford / Columbian Slider (Trachemys scripta callirostris) turtle basking, Medellin, Colombia

Philippe Clement / Large group of Red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans) and Yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta) basking in the sun on tree trunk in pond, France. April.

Henley Spiers / Red eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) swimming through lily pads, Cenote Aktun Ha, Yucatan, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico.

Henley Spiers / Red eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) swimming amongst water lilies, Cenote Aktun Ha, Yucatan, Mexico, Gulf of Mexico.

Doug Wechsler / Red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys rubriventris), Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) on basking platform, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Pennsylvania, USA....

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), and Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) on back of Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Maryland, USA, August.

John Cancalosi / Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), and Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) on back, Maryland, USA, August.