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Hot: 21 to 32 °C
Cold: -3 to 4 °C
500 to 1K USD
1 to 10 PSI
Jump: 0.1-0.3 Feet
Swimming: 1-5 Miles per hour (2-8 km/h)
Animal Type: Omnivores
A kind of turtle endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico is the Big Bend slider, whose scientific name is Chrysemys gaigeae. In particular, it covers a large portion of northern Mexico, including the states of Chihuahua and Coahuila, as well as the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Renowned herpetologist Dr. Karl P. Schmidt first reported the species in 1951; in recognition of his colleague Helen Gaige's contributions to the field, Schmidt named the species after her.
Among the many varieties of freshwater turtles, the Big Bend slider belongs to the Emydidae family. Although it has a close relationship with the more common red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), this species is easily identifiable due to its smaller size and more restricted range. While the Big Bend slider's carapace is usually olive-to dark-brown with yellow stripes, the plastron is a paler shade of yellow with a noticeable black spot on every scute.
This freshwater turtle species, known as the Big Bend slider (Chrysemys gaigeae), is exclusive to the northern and southwestern regions of Mexico and the United States. This species may be found in northern Mexico in places like Chihuahua and Coahuila, but it is most often seen in Texas's Big Bend region, especially near the Rio Grande. The Big Bend slider was named after Helen Gaige, a legendary person in herpetology for her groundbreaking work on amphibians and reptiles, and was first identified in 1951 by herpetologist Karl P. Schmidt.
The Big Bend slider stands out from other turtles due to its unique look. Its carapace, which ranges in color from olive green to dark brown and is striped with yellow, allows it to blend in with its surroundings. Lighter yellow with black spots on each scute makes up the plastron, or underside of the shell. The unique pattern and hue of this species aid in its identification for both researchers and hobbyists. The Big Bend slider is physically similar to the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), with the exception that it is more locally distributed and does not have the distinctive red ear marks.