Common Name
red-eared slider

Iowa Range
southeast Iowa

Habitat
soft-bottomed, slow moving, shallow rivers, streams, and lakes with vegetation

Description
The red-eared slider has a orange or red stripe behind the eyes, giving it its name. The carapace is oval, olive to brown, with yellow bars and stripes which disappear with age to be replaced by a black pigment. The plastron is yellow and can be unmarked or intricately patterned.