Pet Trade Problem: Traditionally the most popular turtle sold as a pet, massive collection of the red-eared slider from the wild and release into non-native regions warrant conservation concern.
Latin name: Trachemys scripta elegans Where: Reptile House Length: 5 to 11 in Weight: Up to 2 lbs Habitat: Freshwater ponds and streams Diet: Fish, mollusks, and insects Risk Status: Species at Risk (IUCN—Lower risk/near threatened) Range: Southern and Midwestern United States