Class Mascot Nomination: Yellow Bellied Slider

Our class mascot should be Tachemys scripta (yellow bellied slider turtle), these guys are quite the turtles! They love to be seen from afar but as one approaches they quickly slide into the water away from their basking position. For being the most common freshwater turtle species on the southeast, it would be appropriate to nominate this special herp, considering how often we see them on our field trips. How could you not enjoy their presence with the distinctive yellow markings from head to neck to limbs and their hind legs sprawled? These guys are the original sun bathers and know how to do it, don’t try this at home though without sunscreen.