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Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 22nd, 2013, 12:38 pm
by Kingbird77
Hello,
I'm leading a birdwatching tour at the moment in Panama and have a question about the pond turtles in the canal zone. To my eye they look like Trachemys scripta, but I have seen reports of Chrysemys ornatus here and I really do not know how to separate the two. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 22nd, 2013, 1:08 pm
by Antonsrkn
If you have photos post them, that will make things easier.

In my experience Meso-American sliders (Trachemys venusta) were common in the canal zone and I saw them frequently while I was down there. I think that T. venusta was elevated to species status from T. scripta ornata awhile back. I am unaware of a chrysemys ornatus but looking at the similarity of the name to the old subspecies of T. scripta ornata maybe there is some confusion there?

My money is on T. venusta.

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 22nd, 2013, 3:24 pm
by Mike VanValen
Not sure why Chrysemys is retained in some publications. Trachemys ornata was elevated from scripta but I don't believe they are present in Panama. I agree that venusta is probably what you are seeing.

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 26th, 2013, 12:11 am
by AsydaBass
Ditto. Those guys are correct about T. venusta and the canal zone.

-Don
www.RainforestDon.com

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 26th, 2013, 12:24 pm
by Jon Wedow
Here's one of of those turtles from near the Gatun locks in Gamboa
Image

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 26th, 2013, 1:03 pm
by Antonsrkn
And here is a young one from Barro Colorado, besides the shell looks alot like a red eared slider.
Image

Re: Pond Turtles in Panama

Posted: March 29th, 2013, 7:22 pm
by Kingbird77
Thanks to all the responders,
Any tips where I might find a online current (and generally accepted) taxonomy of amphibians and reptiles of the world?