Citizen science and non-indigenous species

a new record of the introduced freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta scripta (Thunberg, 1792) in Tunisia

Abstract

Trachemys scripta scripta, commonly called the Yellow-bellied Slider, is a freshwater turtle native to the southern United States, from Virginia to northern Florida. It has since been introduced into various European countries. Here, we report the first introduction of T. scripta scripta to Tunisia, recorded through the Tunisian Facebook group 'TunSea,' dedicated to aquatic species conservation. This study highlights the role of
citizen science in early detection and raising awareness about the potential impacts of releasing non-native turtles into the wild.