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Res Turtle

The document discusses the red-eared slider turtle, an invasive species in Australia. It is native to North America but has established feral populations around the world. It describes the turtle's appearance, life cycle, methods of spread, habitat, and legal requirements for reporting sightings in Australia. Local governments must have biosecurity plans to control invasive species like this turtle.

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24 views2 pages

Res Turtle

The document discusses the red-eared slider turtle, an invasive species in Australia. It is native to North America but has established feral populations around the world. It describes the turtle's appearance, life cycle, methods of spread, habitat, and legal requirements for reporting sightings in Australia. Local governments must have biosecurity plans to control invasive species like this turtle.

Uploaded by

anesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry


BiosecurityQueensland
Biosecurity Queensland

Restricted invasive animal

Wild dog control


Red-eared slider turtle
Canis familiaris
Trachemys scripta elegans

Native to the USA, the red-eared slider is a freshwater Legal requirments


turtle with a distinctive red strip behind each ear.
Red-eared sliders are very aggressive and will out-compete The red-eared slider turtle is a restricted invasive animal
native species for food and space. They can carry diseases under the Biosecurity Act 2014. The Act requires that all
that will threaten our own native turtles. The International sightings of red-eared slider turtles must be reported to
Union for Conservation of Nature lists the red-eared slider Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours of being found. By
as one of the worlds 100 worst invasive alien species. law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO)
to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the
Red-eared slider turtles have been distributed through risk of these turtles escaping until they receive advice
the illegal pet trade, and feral populations have now from an authorised officer. It must not be kept, moved, fed,
established on every continent except Antarctica. given away, sold, or released into the environment without
a permit.
At a local level, each local government must have a Life cycle
biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants and animals
in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on Sexually mature at 25 years of age. Females lay up to
certain species. Some of these actions may be required 70 eggs per year. Females can produce viable eggs for
under local laws. Contact your local government for up to five years after one mating. The maximum life-span
more information. generally 2030 years, longer in captivity.

Description Methods of spread


Red-eared slider turtles are a fresh water turtle that can Spread by people through illegal pet trade. Due to species
grow up to 30 cm long. It has a distinctive red stripe aggression, pet owners may release turtles into local
behind each eye, and fine yellow streaks and lines on the creeks and waterways.
head, neck, legs and tail. The undersides of red-eared
slider turtles are pale yellow with dark smudges or swirls. Habitat and distribution
The head can retract back into shell (unlike native turtles). Native to North America the red-eared slider turtle is very
Mature turtles are aggressive and bite. adaptable to Australian waterways, with few predators.
The pet trade has also developed two colour morphs of Red-eared slider turtles can move up to 9 km from water to
red-eared slider turtles: pastel (lighter colour with varying find suitable habitat, search for mate or lay eggs. Nests are
amounts of red and yellow) and albino (bright yellow dug well above water level, usually within 500 m of water
juvenile with colour fading as turtle ages). but sometimes up to 1.6 km away.

Confusion with native turtles


Control
Red-eared slider turtles can be confused with native
turtles especially when the red stripes fade as the turtle All suspected sightings of red-eared slider turtles must be
ages or may be indistinct if animals are living in dirty reported to Biosecurity Queensland. If possible, anyone
water. There are several species of native turtle with finding suspected turtles should immediately take steps to
markings on the head, but none have red stripes. minimise the risk of them escaping.

Unlike native turtles, which tuck their heads in on the side, Further information
the red-eared slider turtle retracts its head straight back
Further information is available from your local
into the shell. This is the most reliable characteristic for
government office, or by contacting Biosecurity
distinguishing these invasive pest turtles from our
Queensland on 13 25 23 or visit
native species.
www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au.

This fact sheet is developed with funding support from the Land Protection Fund.
Fact sheets are available from Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13 25 23). Check our website at
www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control methods referred to in this fact sheet should be used in accordance with the
restrictions (federal and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method. These restrictions may prevent the use of one or
more of the methods referred to, depending on individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, DAF does not invite reliance
upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based on it.

The State of Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, 2016. 07/16

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