It was a sunny day somewhere in the low 80s, but there was a moderately strong breeze keeping it cool. It did not rain and was not too humid. I saw this pond slider in the Liberty Pond near the Reitz Student Union on campus. It was sharing a metal pipe with another turtle to dry off/warm up/sunbathe. These two turtles were pretty large and there was not a lot of space for them on this pipe, so the pond slider was a little bit on top of the other turtle. I don't believe they were mating though since they seem to be different species and the pod slider is not quite high enough on the other turtle's shell. There were many other pond sliders swimming in the water nearby and a few schools of fish as well.
Class: Reptilia - tetrapod with dry skin (when out of water) and scales (scutes)
Order: Testudines - bony shell encasing body
Suborder: Cryptodira - found in North America, so cannot be Pleurodira (only found in the southern hemisphere) so must be Cryptodira
Family: Emydidae - aquatic, freshwater (found in Liberty Pond), low-arching carapace with no peaks, lack snorkel-like nose and hooked jaw, webbed toes (picture 2)
Florida Cooter