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Ecology & Environment
Pradeep Kumar

15/05/21 12:20 PM IST

U.S. slider turtles

In news

American turtle popular as pet is threatening to invade the natural water bodies across the Northeast, which is home to 21 of the 29 vulnerable native Indian species of freshwater turtles and tortoises.

Highlights
  • The alarm was raised after H.T. Lalremsanga and eight others from Mizoram University’s Department of Zoology published another report.
  • Their report said a red-eared slider was collected from an unnamed stream, connected to the Tlawng River, on a farm near Mizoram capital Aizawl.
  • The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) derives its name from red stripes around the part where its ears would be and from its ability to slide quickly off any surface into the water.
Issue
  • Native to the U.S. and northern Mexico, this turtle is an extremely popular pet but on the flip side they grow fast and virtually leave nothing for the native species to eat.
  • The red-eared slider has already affected States such as Karnataka and Gujarat, where it has been found in 33 natural water bodies.
Source: The Hindu

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