Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta)

    We caught two of this species in same trap one was a normal colored smaller male while the other was a melanistic rather aggressive and larger male.

   

 The melanistic individual, note that the yellowish markings are still present but are darker in coloration.

    The smaller out of the the two turtles was one that had been recaptured and we determined that his code was 0.17 and the melanistic turtle had notches placed on him and was given the code 6.90.

Yellow-bellied 0.17

Plastron: 134.3 mm
Carapace: 151.6 mm
Weight: 542 grams

Yellow-bellied 6.90
Pastron: 155.6 mm
Carapace: 170.5 mm
Weight: 740 grams

    The Yellow-bellied tends to live to no longer than 30 years of age. When these turtles first hatch they are mostly carnivorous but as they age their diet shifts to favoring plant material, although they are omnivorous throughout their lives and will spend most of their time in the water only coming out to back in the sun's heat.

Lined Topminnow (Fundulus lineolatus)

    Found natively as far north as southern Virginia and as south as Florida, the lined topminnow is a member of the family Fundulidae. Although they have been introduced as an invasive species probably by people dumping their bait buckets into these freshwater systems.

    You can tell the difference between a male and a female by looking at the lines on their sides. The males have very pronounced vertical lines while the females vertical lines are equally noticeable to the horizontal lines which both genders have.

Chain Pickerel (Esox niger)

    The Chain Pickerel can be found in many of the same locations as the Red Fin Pickerel mentioned in another post entry. However the Chain Pickerel is typically in larger bodies of water than the Red Fin as they are larger in body size being able to reach lengths of up to three feet.

    You will know that you have a pike by its long and relatively slender body as well as its duck bill like snout. All pikes use this snout to prey on smaller fish.

Red Fin Pickerel (Esox americanus)

    Clearly named for the red coloration of their fins, the Red Fin Pickerel looks very similar to the Chain Pickerel although is a bit a smaller. One sure way to tell the difference if you are ever confused is to look at linear eye marking. A Red Fin has  a diagonal marking and the Chain has a vertical marking.

    The Red Fin can reach lengths of about 12 inches and is sometimes the larger predator in its habitat, preying almost exclusively on smaller fish. The Red Fin is however the smallest of all the pike species.  

    You can find these guys in small freshwater sheds such as a pond or a small stream. But you can find them in larger rivers and lakes, but this usually means that they have predators of their own.