Trachemys scripta elegans has been introduced in many places in the tropics. It is native to the central United States, and has spread about the world via the pet trade – this species is bred and raised in enormous numbers and sold on the open market in the pet trade.

It is closely related to the Meso-American Slider, Trachemys venusta (see the account on that species), but is easily differentiated by examining the pattern on its plastron. .