D'Orbigny's slider or the black-bellied slider (Trachemys dorbigni), commonly known in Brazil as tartaruga-tigre or tartaruga-tigre-d'água (which mean "tiger turtle" and "water tiger turtle" in Portuguese), is a species of water turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is found in southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay.^[2] Two subspecies (in addition to the nominate subspecies) are recognized as being valid, Trachemys dorbigni adiutrix and Trachemys dorbigni brasiliensis.^[3]

Quick Facts 'Orbigny's slider, Scientific classification ...

D'Orbigny's slider
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Trachemys
Species:	T. dorbigni
Binomial name
Trachemys dorbigni (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1835)
Subspecies
Trachemys dorbigni brasiliensis Trachemys dorbigni dorbigni
Synonyms[1]
Emys dorbigni Duméril & Bibron, 1835 Clemmys (Rhinoclemmys) orbignyi Fitzinger, 1835 Emys dorbignii Gray, 1844 (ex errore) Emys orbignyi d'Orbignyi & Bibron, 1847 Clemmys dorbignii Strauch, 1862 Clemmys dorbignyi Boulenger, 1886 Chrysemys dorbignyi Boulenger, 1889 Emys dorbignyi Siebenrock, 1909 Pseudemys dorbigni Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 Chrysemys (Trachemys) dorbigni McDowell, 1964 Pseudemys dorbignyi Pritchard, 1967 Pseudemys dorbignyi brasiliensis Freiberg, 1969 Pseudemys dorbignyi dorbignyi Freiberg, 1969 Pseudemys scripta dorbigni Moll & Legler, 1971 Pseudemys dorbigni brasiliensis Wermuth & Mertens, 1977 Pseudemys dorbigni dorbigni Wermuth & Mertens, 1977 Pseudemys dorbigny Moll, 1979 (ex errore) Pseudemys scripta dorbignyi Pritchard, 1979 Pseudemys scripta brasiliensis Smith & Smith, 1980 Chrysemys scripta dorbignyi Mittermeier, Medem & Rhodin, 1980 Chrysemys dorbigni brasiliensis Freiberg, 1981 Chrysemys dorbigni dorbigni Freiberg, 1981 Chrysemys scripta brasiliensis Obst, 1983 Chrysemys scripta dorbigni Obst, 1983 Trachemys scripta brasiliensis Iverson, 1985 Trachemys scripta dorbigni Iverson, 1985 Trachemys scripta dorbignyi Waller & Chebez, 1987 Trachemys dorbignyi Alderton, 1988 Trachemys dorbigni Waller, 1988 Trachemys dorbigni brasiliensis Ernst & Barbour, 1989 Trachemys dorbigni dorbigni Ernst & Barbour, 1989 Trachemys dorbignii brasiliensis Bour, 2003 Trachemys dorbignii dorbignii Bour, 2003 Trachemys dorbigny Fabius, 2004

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The specific name, dorbigni, is in honor of French naturalist Alcide d'Orbigny.^[4]

The form of the plastron determines its gender. After a few years of life, show differences between male and female. Males have a penis that is inserted into the tail. It becomes apparent only during the mating season when it is inserted into the female's cloaca.^[5] D'Orbigny's slider has a life span of between 30^[6] and 100 years in captivity.

They are usually found in water bodies such as lakes, marshes, streams and rivers. They have a preference for waters with low or moderate currents, soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation.^[5]

Babies are born weighing 11 grams (0.39 oz) with a 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) carapace. The average growth rate is about 3 centimetres (1.2 in) per year on wild, but in captivity it can grow faster being able to grow over 9 centimetres (3.5 in) in a year. The females can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 in) carapace and weight over 2.7 kilograms (6.0 lb),^[7] while the male can only grow 25 centimetres (9.8 in) carapace. When the males reach sexual maturity (after 2 years), they acquire a dark color while the females keep the same green after maturity (at 5 years).^[5]

Females produce an average of 10 eggs per buried nest; usually they bury two nests per season. Incubation ranges from 2 to 4 months. The eggs are laid under approximately 10 centimetres (3.9 in) of sand. The eggs are white-colored. Each egg on average measures 39.3 millimetres (1.55 in) in length and 25.8 millimetres (1.02 in) in width, weighing on average 14.9 grams (0.53 oz).^[5]

Only 31% of the female population lays egg each year.^[5]

The sex of baby turtles is determined by the temperature of the sand during incubation, lower temperatures increase the number of females.

The turtles are susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia, dystocia, bone decalcification, vitamin deficiency, gastroenteritis, and prolapses.

Pet owners must avoid using small objects as decoration in their tank, because they tend to eat everything they can. Such small objects, such as pebbles and plastic decorations, may lead to gut impaction, which is very likely to require surgical intervention.

Despite being very hardy, they may have rachitis, a disease that makes the shell soft due to protein deficiency. It may be corrected by adding protein to meals, especially through fish.

Placing turtles in abrasive surfaces can also cause plastron injuries, which provide an entrance point to fungi and bacteria.

Allowing the animal to maintain its temperature around an optimal point (between 28 and 34 degrees Celsius) is a necessity. Providing the turtles with daily sun light or special UV light so that they can properly metabolize vitamin D will avoid metabolic issues. ^[6]

These omnivorous turtles can eat almost anything in nature shrimps, vegetables, fruit, carrion, small fishes, snails, worms, etc.

During the first two years of life these turtles are mainly carnivorous, eating small animals and carrion, but then they switch to being mainly vegetarian eating more vegetables and algae then meat.

For pet keepers it is recommended that you feed them more than once every day in the first two-years, then shift to feeding once every two days. ^[6]