turtle ID request

[herpseeker1978]

Found this in Albuquerque today:


I know the one in front is a RES, but I'm unsure on the other. Any ideas?

Josh

[Soro]

That mystery one is definitely a melanistic red-eared slider. Around St. Louis sliders are the most abundant turtle to turn up in ponds and reservoirs, and melanistic males are pretty common.

[simus343]

Old RES will lose the red coloration as they age. One day at work my boss (who is a herpetologist that focuses on turtles) had a surprise herp quiz for fun with a turtle he received. I couldn't ID it at first, I was stumped. Turned out it was a very old RES that had lost its red ear coloration.

So may be melanistic, but more likely (in my opinion) just an old Red-Ear Slider.

[Mike VanValen]

Old red-eared sliders and melanism go hand-in-hand.

[Noah M]

I concur with what has been said about age and melanin.

[simus343]

So as they age they become melanistic? I thought a true melanistic would be a trait exhibited from birth.