This medium-size turtle gets its name Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) from the broad reddish stripe behind its eyes. The undersurface of its chin is rounded and there is a V-shaped notch at the front of its jaw that is not flanked by cusps. Most of its body is dark olive green with thin yellow green stripes and bars on the top of its shell (carapace), legs and face.