Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

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Crossturtle
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Joined: August 19th, 2014, 3:23 pm

Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by Crossturtle »

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if you could take a look at turtles 1 and 2 for me and ID them. I think they may be melanistic red eared sliders or melanistic yellow belly sliders...?

Lastly, can a melanistic male red eared slider breed with a healthy female?(does melanistic necessarily mean old and decrepid?)

I found them on a golf course in Maryland.

1. Turtle 1= http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=3&o=5
2. Turtle 1(2nd pic) = http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=3&o=4
3. Turtle 2= http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=3&o=3
4. Turtle 2=(2nd pic) = http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=3&o=2
5. Turtle neck= http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=1&o=0
6. Turtle neck=(2nd pic) = http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/Darre ... sort=3&o=0


Thanks,
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justinm
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Re: Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by justinm »

Yes that looks to be a Red Eared Slider.
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Mike VanValen
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Re: Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by Mike VanValen »

Yes, melanistic red-eared sliders, and yes, they can breed successfully for many years. Melanism is just a color change.
Crossturtle
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Re: Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by Crossturtle »

Thanks for responding. How would you tell the difference between a melanistic yellow belly and a melanistic red eared slider?
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Mike VanValen
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Re: Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by Mike VanValen »

Depends on how much of the pattern is diffused. YBS often has a pair of spots on the forward part of the plastron, although in some cases the spots are absent. It is usually a safe bet that they are red-ears when you are outside the range of both species (such as Maryland). In South Carolina, where YBS are native, I saw both species together including melanistic specimens.
Crossturtle
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Joined: August 19th, 2014, 3:23 pm

Re: Turtle ID--Red Ear/Melanistic Red Ear?

Post by Crossturtle »

Ok Thanks,
Yes, that makes sense. I observed them in a pond where there were many adult RES(and no nonmelanisitic YBS), and only a few juveniles. And the vast majority of the RES were female. Only the males were melanistic. It is interesting. Are males more prone to melanism? Is it connected to breeding a large number of females, I wonder?
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