The Diet of Invasive Red-Eared Sliders Trachemys Scripta Elegans Includes the Invasive Red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus Clarkii in the Nogawa River, Central Japan

Invasive alien species affect ecosystems worldwide, and the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans is among the most successful invaders. Analysis of the gut contents of 11 individuals revealed a primarily herbivorous diet, with frequent consumption of large quantities of grasses. Red-eared sliders were also found to consume animal material, including crayfish, bivalve molluscs, insects, fish and birds. The species preys on the invasive red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, of which they appear to be a prominent predator. Thus, to conserve the native fauna, implementing removal strategies for both red-eared sliders and red swamp crayfish is considered essential.