A family of Red-eared Sliders meets a curious Mallard. The Red-eared Slider is a semiaquatic turtle belonging to the family Emydidae and a subspecies of the pond slider. They get their name from the small red stripe around their ears. The "slider" in their name comes from their ability to slide off rocks and logs and into the water quickly. In nature, they inhabit areas with a source of still, warm water, such as ponds, lakes, swamps, creeks, streams, or slow-flowing rivers. Living in these areas allows them to leave the water easily by climbing onto rocks or tree trunks so they can warm up in the sun. They are often found sunbathing in a group or even on top of each other. They also require abundant aquatic plants, as these are the adults main food, although they are omnivores. Turtles in the wild always remain close to water unless they are searching for a new habitat or when females leave the water to lay their eggs. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species according to the IUCN. Although it is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, it has become established in other places because it is the most popular pet turtle in the world and some owners release it into the wild, where it has become an invasive species and out-competes native species. Rendered in DAZ Studio Iray without any postwork. Models include Fern Lake (Stonemason), Songbird ReMix Waterfowl v1 and Nature's Wonders Turtles (Ken Gilliland)