The Red-Eared Slider is a semi-aquatic sub-species of turtle belonging to the Emydidae family, originally from the south-eastern region of the United States and the northeast of Mexico, although currently it is found in many other parts of the world thanks to the pet trade.

They feeds on prawns, shrimp, small fish, sand hoppers, mosquito larvae, pieces of fish or small whole fish, squid, mussels, earth worms, aquatic snails, lettuce leaves, cabbage, dandelions, tender peas, water lentils...

The Shell of this species can grow to 30cm in length, although in some specimens it has been found to have reached 40cm, but on average it measures between 12 and 20 cm.  The females tend to be a little larger than the males.  They live to between 20 to 30 years, with some turtles even living to over 40.

This subspecies has become the most widely sold turtle and one of the most popular pets in recent years due to the fact their care is relatively simple, what has turned them into invasive species because when they grow larger, many owners cannot continue caring for them in their homes and believe they do a good job releasing them in rivers, lakes, parks... This release causes the autochthonous species like the European Galápago or the Leprosa to be in danger. They have been displaced from their feeding and nesting areas by the Galápagos of Florida have even become hybridized causing a major loss of native fauna but also being a very voracious and highly reproductive species, they are also depleting food reserves.