European Pond Turtle

NAME:

European Pond Turtle

CLASS:

Reptilia

ORDER:

Testudines

GENUS:

Emys

SPECIES:

orbicularis

LENGTH:

7 to 14 inches

DIET:

carnivorous:fish, amphibians, mollusks, insects, crustaceans, small snakes, worms, and small mammals

RANGE

Native to Spain, France, northern Italy, southern Germany, Poland, Turkey, Iran, Russia, Morocco and Algeria

HABITAT

It lives in and around slow-flowing water.

CHARACTERISTICS

Older European Pond Turtles are dark tan, olive green, or brown in color, while the younger animals have yellowish markings on the shell, head, and neck. Theymay have bright yellow or gold speckling present on the dark carapace and skin of many of the juveniles and adults. The top of the shell, or carapace, is oval shaped and smooth and they have webbed digits with sharp nails.

BEHAVIOR

They usually live in groups of between 5 and 20 Pond Turtles. European Pond Turtles are active between April and October. They hibernate in the winter, usually buried in the mud.

REPRODUCTION

Males are sexually mature at 12 to 13 years old, while the female is not mature until she is about 15. These turtles usually mate after hibernation in May. The female lays a clutch of between three and sixteen eggs.The eggs, which are laid in holes dug in the ground, hatch between August and September.