Southernmost Localities of Trachemys dorbigni and First Record of Trachemys scripta elegans for Argentina (Cryptodira: Emydidae)

Buying environmental problems: The invasive potential of imported freshwater turtles in Argentina

“…It is not by chance that in the last three years the first feral specimens of T. scripta have been reported in Argentina (Alcalde et al, ; Prado et al, ; Quiroga et al, ). Argentinian decision‐makers are walking a tightrope: if regulatory policies for the trade and holding of these freshwater turtles are not enforced urgently, new biological invasions may become established in the country soon.…”

“…The trade and pet ownership of T. scripta and G. pseudogeographica should, therefore, be prohibited in these provinces. Not by chance, two of the three reported alien specimens of T. scripta in Argentina were found there but were quickly removed (Alcalde et al, ; Prado et al, ). However, given the antecedents, these areas (and those highly suitable in the north east of the country) should be systematically monitored and the individuals of the species removed to avoid potential establishment and its associated problems.…”

“…As stated in the Introduction, alien individuals of Trachemys are very prone to hybridizing when in contact with related species (Figuereido, ; Parham et al, ). This is a major threat to the native populations of T. dorbigni, given their proximity to the reported feral T. scripta specimens (in the north‐eastern part of Buenos Aires province; Alcalde et al, ; Prado et al, ). It is very important to undertake strict monitoring in those areas, aimed at finding and removing new specimens.…”

“…Hemidactylus mabouia and Tarentola mauritanica : Baldo, Borteiro, Brusquetti, García, & Prigioni, ). Nevertheless, it is worrying that one of the world's most invasive turtles, T. scripta (Lowe et al, ), never found before in Argentina, has now been recorded repeatedly in the last three years (Alcalde, Derocco, Rosset, & Williams, ; Prado et al, ; Quiroga, Gonzáles, & Akmentins, ).…”

On the status of red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied, 1838) (Testudines, Emydidae) with evidences of its reproduction in the wild, Chile

“…In South America this species has been introduced in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana. [14][15][16] The import and trade of this species is forbidden only in Brazil since 1998 17 and Colombia since 2013. 18 In Chile, T. s. elegans has been massively commercialized in pet shops for over four decades.…”