A closer look at the pair of Red eared Slider turtles. The red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), also known as Red-eared Terrapin, is a semi-aquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world,as, among other factors, it is easy to maintain. It has, therefore, become the most commonly traded turtle in the world as well. It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases and has become an invasive species in many areas, where it out-competes native species. Red-eared sliders get their name from the small red dash around their ears. (Emirates Park Zoo, Samha, Abu Dhabi, Jan. 2015)