Details
Emys orbicularis
The European pond turtle is a long-lived freshwater turtle of the western Palearctic. Its dark shell and yellow spotting mark one of Europe's native wetland reptiles.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It occurs in southern, central and eastern Europe, western Asia and parts of North Africa. Ponds, marshes, wooded wetlands and slow channels are typical habitats.
Shell length ranges from 12-38 cm, with body mass around 300-1200 g. The shell is dark brown to blackish, and the head and limbs carry yellow speckles.
It basks by day and moves between water and land. Nesting females may travel far from water while searching for warm open soil.
Young turtles eat mostly animal prey, while adults add more plant material. Aquatic insects, mollusks, carrion and water plants all feature in the diet.
Females dig nests in dry ground and lay eggs on land. Incubation temperature influences sex, making nest exposure important for recruitment.
Road mortality, wetland loss and competition with introduced sliders have reduced many populations. Reintroduction and wetland restoration are now used in parts of its range.
