- Posts: 3
Red-eared Terrapin?
28 Jun 2024 00:27 - 28 Jun 2024 00:30 #1
by Ben Mapp
Red-eared Terrapin? was created by Ben Mapp
I appreciate this is an awful lot of grovelling for a potential lifer but stick with me!
Sifting through some old photos and noticed I've taken a plethora of photos of Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta) at Colchester Zoo, Essex. I regularly see them on more recent trips too.
Being a zoo, I've always presumed these are part of the animal collection however a look at the zoo website doesn't show the species on the animal list, and there is an accepted record at the zoo on the NBN Atlas map shown here - species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0000080227#tab_mapView
The terrapins are always on the main lake with wild birds too, thus with all this info, would anyone else deem this as a countable species?
Thanks, Ben
Sifting through some old photos and noticed I've taken a plethora of photos of Red-eared Terrapin (Trachemys scripta) at Colchester Zoo, Essex. I regularly see them on more recent trips too.
Being a zoo, I've always presumed these are part of the animal collection however a look at the zoo website doesn't show the species on the animal list, and there is an accepted record at the zoo on the NBN Atlas map shown here - species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0000080227#tab_mapView
The terrapins are always on the main lake with wild birds too, thus with all this info, would anyone else deem this as a countable species?
Thanks, Ben
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01 Jul 2024 18:32 #2
by Stephen Plummer
Replied by Stephen Plummer on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Hi Ben,
I think that there are a couple of Terrapin/Slider species that are regularly found in water bodies around the UK, many probably a result of releases of unwanted pets. I don't think that it's been proved that they are breeding, but they are relatively long-lived species, hence the reason, I think, why they are not included on the main species list.
Interestingly, here in Bedfordshire we have Prairie Dogs - no longer an 'exhibit' - breeding in the grounds of Whipsnade Zoo (and sometimes leaving the confines of the zoo). Black-tailed prairie dog : Whipsnade : 15 May 2016 - ZooChat I've always wondered whether they will spread and one day become tickable alongside the likes of Red-necked Wallaby!
Best wishes,
Stephen.
I think that there are a couple of Terrapin/Slider species that are regularly found in water bodies around the UK, many probably a result of releases of unwanted pets. I don't think that it's been proved that they are breeding, but they are relatively long-lived species, hence the reason, I think, why they are not included on the main species list.
Interestingly, here in Bedfordshire we have Prairie Dogs - no longer an 'exhibit' - breeding in the grounds of Whipsnade Zoo (and sometimes leaving the confines of the zoo). Black-tailed prairie dog : Whipsnade : 15 May 2016 - ZooChat I've always wondered whether they will spread and one day become tickable alongside the likes of Red-necked Wallaby!
Best wishes,
Stephen.
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02 Jul 2024 23:01 #3
by Seth Gibson
Replied by Seth Gibson on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Hiya Ben,
to echo what Stephen has said, the various terrapin species found across parts of Britain are merely dumped pets. They have, on rare occasion, been known to lay eggs but (so far) I don't believe any have ever hatched. Thus all terrapins, whether in your local duckpond or in a zoo lake are, in my opinion, rubbish and completely untickable. A harsh view, I agree, and obviously many folks disagree with this view seeing as they include them on their own PSL. Terrapins aren't breeding and they aren't naturalised. They are merely surviving discarded pets, much to the detriment of various amphibians, both native and introduced, which act as prey items.
to echo what Stephen has said, the various terrapin species found across parts of Britain are merely dumped pets. They have, on rare occasion, been known to lay eggs but (so far) I don't believe any have ever hatched. Thus all terrapins, whether in your local duckpond or in a zoo lake are, in my opinion, rubbish and completely untickable. A harsh view, I agree, and obviously many folks disagree with this view seeing as they include them on their own PSL. Terrapins aren't breeding and they aren't naturalised. They are merely surviving discarded pets, much to the detriment of various amphibians, both native and introduced, which act as prey items.
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03 Jul 2024 00:11 #4
by Ben Mapp
Replied by Ben Mapp on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Hi Stephen / Seth,
Appreciate the responses/views, will leave this one away from my PSL - it's definitely an interesting topic as to when certain animals become 'wild' and tickable, and as Seth alluded to I'm sure everyone's rules are slightly different in terms of what's legit and what isn't, I guess that's the beauty of being your own boss! But yeah, ticking runaway pets is not for me.
Thanks again for the input, much appreciated
Ben
Appreciate the responses/views, will leave this one away from my PSL - it's definitely an interesting topic as to when certain animals become 'wild' and tickable, and as Seth alluded to I'm sure everyone's rules are slightly different in terms of what's legit and what isn't, I guess that's the beauty of being your own boss! But yeah, ticking runaway pets is not for me.
Thanks again for the input, much appreciated

Ben
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26 Oct 2024 01:00 #5
by Bill Urwin
Replied by Bill Urwin on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Seth,
How does ticking the Terrapin differ from say ticking Western Green Lizard? Of the two species, I would say the Terrapins and Sliders stand a better chance of forming a viable population as things get warmer as they will have a more diverse gene pool.
How does ticking the Terrapin differ from say ticking Western Green Lizard? Of the two species, I would say the Terrapins and Sliders stand a better chance of forming a viable population as things get warmer as they will have a more diverse gene pool.
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26 Oct 2024 01:07 #6
by Bill Urwin
Replied by Bill Urwin on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
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28 Oct 2024 15:27 #7
by Graeme Lyons
Replied by Graeme Lyons on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Hi Bill, as this species is native to the Channel Islands, it's totally fine for it to be present on the list. I am assuming you are talking about a feral population on the mainland? If they are naturalised, then that's fine. Otherwise, not.
I think we should take terrapins off the species list until a point that they become properly naturalised.
G
I think we should take terrapins off the species list until a point that they become properly naturalised.
G
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28 Oct 2024 20:21 #8
by Bill Urwin
Replied by Bill Urwin on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Graeme,
A quick check of your list shows that you have Western Green Lizard on your "reptiles" list. Surely there is no proven self-sustaining population of this lizard. Seth and I ticked it on the same day but I'm not sure it can be ticked there now.
Bill
A quick check of your list shows that you have Western Green Lizard on your "reptiles" list. Surely there is no proven self-sustaining population of this lizard. Seth and I ticked it on the same day but I'm not sure it can be ticked there now.
Bill
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29 Oct 2024 06:11 #9
by Graeme Lyons
Replied by Graeme Lyons on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Hi Bill
As Western Green Lizard is native to the Channel Islands, where I have seen it, it's totally fine to have that on your list.
G
As Western Green Lizard is native to the Channel Islands, where I have seen it, it's totally fine to have that on your list.
G
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29 Oct 2024 09:49 #10
by Bill Urwin
Replied by Bill Urwin on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Graeme,
Aaaah, I didn't realise that you had the Channel Islands as part of your listing region.
Bill
Aaaah, I didn't realise that you had the Channel Islands as part of your listing region.
Bill
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29 Oct 2024 09:59 #11
by Graeme Lyons
Replied by Graeme Lyons on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
We all do Bill. We've always included it.
G
G
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01 Nov 2024 17:04 - 01 Nov 2024 17:05 #12
by Seth Gibson
Replied by Seth Gibson on topic Red-eared Terrapin?
Bill, the Green Lizards at the site where we ticked it had already formed a viable breeding population and had been present for a good number of years, hence were entirely countable. Their subsequent eradication by unscrupulous pet trade collectors has apparently ended that particular population, but they were tickable up until that sad point.
And although I agree that there are many turtles, terrapins and sliders calling British waterbodies home, they aren't tickable seeing as they are dumped pets.
However, they have been known to lay eggs in the wild. There are thoughts that some, particularly the Hayle individuals, may have bred. With the continuing climate breakdown, various exotic freshwater turtles species may well start breeding in Britain. At that point, but not before, I personally would deem them tickable on a person's PSL.
That is why I retain Western Green Lizard on my PSL and do not include the various freshwater turtles (and American Bullfrog) that I've encountered in the wild.
And although I agree that there are many turtles, terrapins and sliders calling British waterbodies home, they aren't tickable seeing as they are dumped pets.
However, they have been known to lay eggs in the wild. There are thoughts that some, particularly the Hayle individuals, may have bred. With the continuing climate breakdown, various exotic freshwater turtles species may well start breeding in Britain. At that point, but not before, I personally would deem them tickable on a person's PSL.
That is why I retain Western Green Lizard on my PSL and do not include the various freshwater turtles (and American Bullfrog) that I've encountered in the wild.
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