Red-eared slider

The  is a semi-aquatic species of indigenous to North America, specifically the southern United States and northern Mexico. They are so-named because they have a small red stripe by their ears. The red-eared slider is the most popular species of pet turtle in the United States.

In the original Eastman and Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series by Mirage Studios, the, ,  and  are all mutated red-eared sliders. The red bandannas they all wore were an allusion to this.

Other versions of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been more ambiguous about the exact turtle species of their four main characters, or their stories suggested they were different species altogether. Indeed, most other versions of the four turtles wear color-coded bandannas, with no allusion to the red-eared slider.

In Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is again a red-eared slider, though  are completely different species of turtle. Leo wears a blue bandanna, though his red markings are clearly visible in a way never before portrayed in a mutant turtle design.