European Pond Terrapin
The European Pond Terrapin (also called the European Pond Turtle) is a long-living freshwater species of turtle. It varies quite a bit across its distribution from 5 to 15 inches in length and is olive, brown or black in colour with yellow spots and streaks on the shell and skin although some individuals are nearly black without yellow markings.
The European Pond Terrapin is found in south and central Europe, west Asia and north Africa. In the early post-glacial period, it had a much wider distribution being found as far north as south Sweden.
The European Pond Terrapin can be found in ponds, lakes and slow moving rivers, preferring water bodies with soft bottoms such as mud or sand where it hunts for fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants. It basks during the day but will dive back in to the water if disturbed. The European Pond Terrapin hibernates during the winter.
The European Pond Terrapin is usually considered semi-aquatic since their terrestrial movements can span considerable distances away from water.
In spring females lay 3 to 18 eggs in small holes dug in sunny spots and the incubation period lasts 2 to 4 months. Climate has an effect on the survival of hatchlings. Hatchlings are only able to survive under favourable weather conditions but due to regular annual clutch sizes and long lifespan, adults balance out the loss of hatchlings due to climate.
The European Pond Terrapin has become rare in most countries even though they are widely distributed in Europe. The building of roads and driving of cars through natural habitats is a possible factor that threatens the population. Road networks and traffic often carry complex ecological effects to animal populations such as fragmenting natural habitats and creating barriers for animal movement. Mortality on the road is most likely due to females selecting nests near roads which places a potential danger for the hatchlings as well. Hatchlings that wander too closely to roads are more likely to be killed and put the future population in danger. The life span of the European Pond Terrapin is 40 to 60 years but it can live to over 100 years but this is very rare and unusual.
Date: 7th May 2015
Location: Evros Delta (west), East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
The European Pond Terrapin is found in south and central Europe, west Asia and north Africa. In the early post-glacial period, it had a much wider distribution being found as far north as south Sweden.
The European Pond Terrapin can be found in ponds, lakes and slow moving rivers, preferring water bodies with soft bottoms such as mud or sand where it hunts for fish, amphibians, aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants. It basks during the day but will dive back in to the water if disturbed. The European Pond Terrapin hibernates during the winter.
The European Pond Terrapin is usually considered semi-aquatic since their terrestrial movements can span considerable distances away from water.
In spring females lay 3 to 18 eggs in small holes dug in sunny spots and the incubation period lasts 2 to 4 months. Climate has an effect on the survival of hatchlings. Hatchlings are only able to survive under favourable weather conditions but due to regular annual clutch sizes and long lifespan, adults balance out the loss of hatchlings due to climate.
The European Pond Terrapin has become rare in most countries even though they are widely distributed in Europe. The building of roads and driving of cars through natural habitats is a possible factor that threatens the population. Road networks and traffic often carry complex ecological effects to animal populations such as fragmenting natural habitats and creating barriers for animal movement. Mortality on the road is most likely due to females selecting nests near roads which places a potential danger for the hatchlings as well. Hatchlings that wander too closely to roads are more likely to be killed and put the future population in danger. The life span of the European Pond Terrapin is 40 to 60 years but it can live to over 100 years but this is very rare and unusual.
Date: 7th May 2015
Location: Evros Delta (west), East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece
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Also in: East Macedonia and Thrace
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