Natalie Jordan
Taxonomy
•
Kingdom-animalia
•
Phylum-chordata
•
Class-reptilia
•
Order-testudines
•
Family-emydidae
•
Genus-trachemys
•
Species-t.gaigeae
•
Sub species- none
Big Bend Slider
Food
•Young are omnivorous
•With age tend to become herbivores
Phylogeny
•First appearance
about 200 million
years ago
•Evolved into
different
environments;
aquatic, oceanic
and terrestrial.
Interesting Information
•Tortoise vs. Terrapins: tortoise is larger and is a land dweller, terrapins
considered hard shelled, edible and aquatic
•Turtles can see in color and have the ability to recognize owners
•Females are usually larger then males
•Can hibernate
Habitat & Habits
•Rio Grande's’ Big Bend down to
Chihuahua Mexico
•Bosque del Apache refuge in
New Mexico
•Slow moving areas of water
•Scattered pools surrounded by
sand or gravel bars
•Lakes with soft bottoms
&dense vegetation
•Turtles tend to lay eggs several
times a year
Life Cycle& Life
Span
•Active from
April to October
•Mating occurs
March-June
•Nests June-July
•Female digs
hole, deposits
eggs and covers
hole
•Hatch within 22 ½ months
•Turtles can live
from 40-60
years on
average
Knopf, Alfred A.(2000). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians. New York,
NY: Chanticleer Press Inc.
Stebbins, Robert C. (2003). Western Reptiles and Amphibians. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.
Uetz, Peter. Hoesk, Jiri. Hallerman, Jakob.(2010 November 5). Order Testudines. Retrieved from
http://reptile-database.org.