These are probably the best known of all turtles, and the most common aquatic turtle in Texas. They get their common name from a broad red stripe behind their eyes, and how they slide off rocks and logs when startled. Some of them live more than 30 years. Look for groups of them sunning themselves. If there’s not enough space in the sun, they will often stack themselves on top of each other. They eat aquatic plants, small fish, and decaying material.
