Cumberland slider

Cumberland slider
Trachemys scripta troostii, hatchling
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Emydidae
Subfamily:	Deirochelyinae
Genus:	Trachemys
Species:	T. scripta
Subspecies:	T. s. troostii
Trinomial name
Trachemys scripta troostii (Holbrook, 1836)
Synonyms
Emys troostii Holbrook, 1836 Emys cumberlandensis Holbrook, 1840 Trachemys troostii — Agassiz, 1857 Clemmys troostii — Strauch, 1862 Pseudemys troostii — Cope, 1875 Chrysemys troostii — Boulenger, 1889 Pseudemys troosti [sic] Zeleny & Faust, 1915 (ex errore) Pseudemys scripta troostii — Carr, 1937 Pseudemys troostii troostii — Stejneger & Barbour, 1939 Pseudemys scripta troosti — E. Williams, 1950 Chrysemys scripta troosti — Weaver & Rose, 1967 Chrysemys scripta troostii — Ernst & Barbour, 1972 Trachemys scripta troosti — Iverson, 1985 Trachemys scripta troostii — Iverson, 1986

The Cumberland slider (Trachemys scripta troostii ), also called the Cumberland turtle, is a subspecies of semiaquatic turtle (terrapin) in the family Emydidae.

The subspecific name, troostii, is in honor of Dutch-American naturalist Gerard Troost.

Trachemys scripta troostii, a subspecies of T. scripta, was formerly placed in the genus Pseudemys. The Cumberland slider occurs in a different geographic location from the yellow-bellied slider (T. s. scripta). Intergradation does not occur between these two subspecies.

The carapace of T. s. troostii is olive brown with yellow markings. It has two rounded projections on the posterior edge of the shell, and is slightly keeled. The adult carapace is wrinkled and oval-shaped. The plastron is hingeless and slightly smaller than the carapace. Each of the bottom sides of the marginals has a spot. The skin is brown with an olive to greenish tint with yellow striping. There is a distinct bar behind the eyes that can vary from yellow to red and be either thin or wide. The plastron of the turtle has dark spots, as well as the ridge of the carapace. Also, the plastron has bars or stripes of yellow. The turtle's legs in front have larger yellow stripes than most slider species. There is a yellow and orange stripe directly behind each eye. The stripe is never entirely one color, it starts out yellow and then fades into a dark orange-to-red color closer to the back of the neck.

T. s. troostii is a communal basker. It basks on protrusions out of the water and may bask in stacks or with other species. It is active from April to October. "Slider" comes from its habit of sliding into the water when alarmed while basking, going to deep water for safety where most predators cannot pursue it.

T. s. troostii is found throughout the Mississippi and Tennessee River drainages, and the southeastern United States. This subspecies prefers quiet waters with muddy bottoms. Areas like ponds, lakes, and streams with a profusion of aquatic vegetation, organic substrate, and overhanging basking spots are especially favored.

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Wikipedia