More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Turtles of Zihuatanejo
ORDER TESTUDINES
-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)
-Turtles and Tortoises (Order Testudines)
-Pond and Box Turtles (Family Emydidae)
-Deirochelyine Turtles (Subfamily Deirochelyinae)
-Sliders (Genus Trachemys)
-Mesoamerican Slider (Trachemys venusta)
Pond sliders prefer quiet, soft, muddy bottomed waters with suitable basking spots. They are faithful to their home ranges, leaving only to nest or hibernate.Their diet includes carrion, fish, frogs, shrimp, water snakes, snails, tadpoles and aquatic vegetation such as duckweed. The juveniles are carnivores and as they mature, they add aquatic plants to their diets. Their heads and legs have yellow stripes. Their skin is dark green and brown and they have a wide yellow or red blotch behind the eyes.
Mesoamerican Slider
Trachemys venusta
Description
• Trachemys venusta, commonly known as the Mesoamerican slider, is a freshwater turtle in the family Emydidae. It has an oval, moderately flattened shell, typically olive to brown with yellow or orange markings, and a dark head with yellow stripes. A prominent yellow marking behind the eye is characteristic of many individuals. Its webbed feet and streamlined shell make it well suited to swimming.
Range
• This species occurs in southern Mexico and Central America, with its distribution extending into parts of northern South America depending on the taxonomic treatment of populations. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• Trachemys venusta inhabits freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, marshes, slow-moving rivers, and canals. It favours places with abundant aquatic vegetation and sunny basking sites, including logs and exposed rocks. Individuals often retreat into the water when disturbed.
Diet
• The Mesoamerican slider is an opportunistic omnivore. It feeds on aquatic plants, algae, insects, crustaceans, molluscs, tadpoles, and small fish. Juveniles tend to consume more animal prey, while adults generally eat a greater proportion of plant material.