It is a semi-aquatic turtle native to the southeastern United States and Mexico. Its scientific name is Trachemys scripta elegans. It is a subspecies of the pound slider belonging to the family Emydidae.
This turtle transmits the Salmonella bacterium that can cause salmonellosis in humans. It is one of the world's 100 worst invasive non-native species that has become a threat to Indian biodiversity.
It is presently found all over the world including India through the trade of exotic animals. In India, keeping indigenous tortoises as pets is prohibited under the Wildlife Protection Act but exotic breeds are not prohibited.