First documented cases of egg-laying Trachemys scripta in Belgium Pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) have been released illegally in thousands of freshwater bodies throughout Europe. This article documents the first Belgian records of egg-laying females of T. s. elegans, T. s. troostii and T. s. scripta. Successful reproduction has not yet been documented in the Netherlands or in Belgium. Since pond sliders reproduce successfully in Germany, it seems likely that this should be possible in other countries with a similar temperate climate. Thus, T. scripta might become invasive, not only in southern Europe but also in northwestern Europe. This opens the debate whether action plans on how to deal with pond sliders in Belgium and the Netherlands should be revised. Long-term monitoring of the populations are needed, not only of the pond sliders but of other taxa of exotic water turtles as well. So far 10 different taxa of exotic water turtles have reliably been recorded in Belgium. De lettersierschildpad is in België en Nederland een vrij algemene exoot. Tot nog toe werden in Nederland al verschillende gevallen van eileg gedocumenteerd. Ook in België werd recent eileg vastgesteld, maar vooralsnog heeft dit in geen van beide landen tot succesvolle voortplanting geleid. Zou dit in de toekomst kunnen veranderen? Kondigt zich hier een nieuwe invasieve exoot aan? En komen er ook nog andere exotische waterschild-padden voor in België en Nederland?

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RAVON

D. Verbelen. (2021). Eerste gedocumenteerde gevallen eileg lettersierschildpadden in België. RAVON, 23(1), 2–4.