Trachemys dorbigni (Duméril & Bibron, 1835)

Species Nomenclature

This species is Trachemys dorbigni, commonly known as D'Orbigny's slider.

Sexual Dimorphism Identification

Sexual dimorphism becomes visible after the turtles have been alive for a few years, and gender can be identified by the shape of the plastron.

Male Reproductive Anatomy

Male D'Orbigny's sliders have a penis located within the tail; this organ only becomes apparent during mating season, when it is inserted into the female's cloaca.

Captive Lifespan

In captivity, D'Orbigny's slider has a lifespan ranging from 30 to 100 years.

Habitat Range

These turtles typically live in bodies of water including lakes, marshes, streams, and rivers.

Habitat Preferences

They prefer waters with low to moderate currents, soft bottoms, and abundant aquatic vegetation.

Hatchling Size and Weight

Newly hatched D'Orbigny's sliders weigh around 11 grams (0.39 oz) and have a carapace length of 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in).

Growth Rate

In the wild, the average growth rate is approximately 3 centimetres (1.2 in) per year, while captive individuals can grow faster, reaching over 9 centimetres (3.5 in) of growth in one year.

Adult Size Dimorphism

Mature females can reach a carapace length of up to 30 centimetres (12 in) and weigh more than 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb), while mature males only reach a maximum carapace length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in).

Male Sexual Maturation

Males reach sexual maturity at 2 years old, at which point they develop a dark body color.

Female Sexual Maturation

Females reach sexual maturity at 5 years old and retain their original green coloration after maturing.

Nesting Frequency

For reproduction, females lay an average of 10 eggs per buried nest, and usually produce two buried nests per breeding season.

Breeding Participation Rate

Only 31% of the female population lays eggs each year.

Egg Burial Depth

Females bury their eggs approximately 10 centimetres (3.9 in) deep in sand.

Egg Characteristics

The eggs are white, with an average length of 39.3 millimetres (1.55 in), average width of 25.8 millimetres (1.02 in), and average weight of 14.9 grams (0.53 oz).

Incubation Duration

Incubation takes between 2 and 4 months.

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination

The sex of hatchling D'Orbigny's sliders is determined by sand temperature during incubation: lower temperatures produce a higher number of female offspring.