News Animals

Fearless tadpoles give invaders the edge

Clueless larvae don’t shrink from nonnative turtles, study suggests

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Foreign turtles may do so well at invading Europe in part because they get the drop on tadpoles more readily than their native counterparts.

NO SCENT OF DANGER The red-eared slider turtle, a U.S. native that is invading Europe, may have a stealth advantage on its competition because European tadpoles don’t associate its smell with danger.