Prehistoric Period

Freshwater turtles of the order Testudines and family Emydidae include the Colombian slider (Trachemys callirostris). Colombian slider turtles and other aquatic turtles have evolved to swim efficiently in water, in contrast to tortoises' hefty, dome-shaped shells that are characteristic of land life. That being said, Colombian sliders are really turtles, not tortoises.

In contrast, tortoises are more often found in terrestrial environments; they diverged from turtles in their evolutionary history and adapted to land life by developing traits like their hefty, dome-shaped shells, which shield them from predators and allow them to survive in dry climates.

The modern-day turtles and tortoises may trace their evolutionary lineage back to a time when these animals were much smaller. More than 220 million years ago, in the Triassic epoch, primitive turtles like Proganochelys were the first known turtles. Typical of the transitional stages between prehistoric turtles and contemporary tortoises, these primitive reptiles probably lived in both water and on land.

The fossil record of tortoises goes back tens of millions of years, and different species of tortoise have adapted to different types of terrestrial ecosystems on different continents.

The extensive distribution and evolutionary history of ancient tortoises are supported by the fossils found in locations spanning from North America and Europe to Asia and Africa.

On the other hand, freshwater turtles like the Colombian slider evolved separately from other turtle groups. As they adapted to life in water, they acquired specialised traits like webbed feet for swimming, streamlined shells, and adaptations for breathing and foraging underwater.

It is quite probable that the Colombian slider just recently become a separate species within the larger framework of turtle development. The unique adaptations it has developed for its watery environments in Colombia are a reflection of its ecological niche and evolutionary trajectory in South America