Red-eared Slider

Names and classification

Scientific name

Trachemys scripta elegans

Common names

Red-eared Slider · Pond slider · Trachemys scripta (species-level usage)

Family

Emydidae

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Present

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed

Evidence limits

Occurrence is supported; local abundance and impact estimates remain less certain than presence.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Freshwater streams, ponds, reservoirs, marshes, canals, drainage ditches, and slow-water habitats.

Food and resource needs

Omnivorous; aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, carrion and other available foods.

Reproduction

Terrestrial nesting substrate above waterline and suitable incubation conditions.

Shelter

Freshwater refuge plus basking structures and terrestrial nesting ground.

Threats and conservation

Threats

Competition, omnivory and disease/pathogen pathways may affect freshwater communities; pet release is an important introduction pathway.

Conservation actions

Early detection, containment/control where feasible, prevent intentional release or transport, protect high-value native habitats, and monitor ecological effects.

Monitoring

Repeat island occurrence surveys, population trend monitoring, and impact studies using standardized methods.

Data gaps

Current population distribution, abundance, and Kauaʻi-specific ecological effect sizes remain incompletely quantified.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Year-round

Seasonal description

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.

Sources and further reading

• USGS NAS — Red-eared Slider — Kauaʻi collection records