Denizens of Freshwater
Cat Island Slider
Freshwater turtles are a diverse group of animals with researchers estimating 250 different species. These turtles are mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The family Emydidae is a group found throughout the Americas. In this family, the Genus Trachemys (meaning “rough turtle”) is represented by 26 species, four of which are endemic to the West Indies. Two of these species are found in The Bahamas: The Cat Island Slider (Trachemys terrapen) and the Central Antillean Slider (T. stejnegeri).​
The Cat Island Slider (also known as the Jamaican Slider) is a moderate sized freshwater turtle species found on the islands of Cat Island, Eleuthera and introduced to Andros and New Providence (where it hybridizes with the invasive red-eared slider and the Inagua Slider). The top of its shell (carapace) is brown or olive in color and its skin is greyish brown. Pale yellow stripes can be seen on the neck and chin.
There is some disagreement as to the natural status of the Cat Island Slider in The Bahamas. Some authorities believe that the species was introduced into country and evidence to support the idea that these animals were being moved around by humans is the New Providence populations of both the Cat Island and Inagua sliders along with the invasive red eared slider. Paleontological evidence from Jamaica indicates that the Cat Island Slider was present in Jamaica for at least 100,000 years, during the Pleistocene Epoch.
However, bone fragments from a slider turtle in San Salvador, also dating back to the Pleistocene add support to the Cat Island Slider being present in The Bahamas thousands of years ago and prior to human arrival to the archipelago. The discovery of more fossil evidence of freshwater turtles in The Bahamas and genetic research involving both Bahamian and Jamaican Slider populations will help to resolve this issue of its natural distribution.
​
Cat Island Slider basking on log
The Central Antillean Slider is found on the Islands of Puerto-Rico, Hispaniola and The Bahamas. The Bahamas is home to an endemic subspecies commonly known as the Inagua Slider (T. stejnegeri malonei). The Inagua slider is native to Great Inagua but there is also an introduced population on New Providence.​
Inagua Slider
Both species of freshwater turtle inhabit well vegetated fresh or brackish water wetlands. Cat Island sliders also have been found in Blue holes. They feed on fruits such as cocoplum, pond apple as well as leaves and flowers. Hatchlings and juveniles may be more carnivorous and feed on animal matter such as insects and small vertebrates.
Sadly, the Cat Island Slider is listed as Vulnerable and the Central Antillean Slider is listed as Near Threatened according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Freshwater habitats in The Bahamas are not particularly abundant and saltwater intrusion from hurricanes and other storms can contaminate these sensitive environments. Ponds can also be contaminated by human debris such as landscape debris, and garbage. This can lead to decrease oxygen availability in ponds for fish and other animals, an increase in pathogen growth due to eutrophication which can lead to illness in turtles and death.
fact sheets
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
posters
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
COMING SOON!
photo gallery
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |
resources
Bour, R., 2008. Global diversity of turtles (Chelonii; Reptilia) in freshwater. Freshwater animal diversity assessment, pp.593-598.
​
Lee, D.S. and Ross, J.P., 2001. The Cat Island turtle, a reptile of problematic origin, including a bibliographic review of the genus Trachemys in the West Indian region. In Proceedings of the 8th Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas. Gerace Research Center, San Salvador, Bahamas (pp. 36-47).
​
Morgan, G.S., 1993. Quaternary land vertebrates of Jamaica. Biostratigraphy of Jamaica. Geological Society of America Memoir, 182, pp.417-442.
​
Olson, S.L., Pregill, G.K. and Hilgartner, W.B., 1990. Studies on fossil and extant vertebrates from San Salvador (Watling's) Island, Bahamas.
​
Seidel, M.E., 1988. Trachemys terrapen. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (CAAR).