EUROPEAN POND TERRAPIN
These terrapins can grow to have a shell or carapace of up to 250mm. Their shell is oval and domed, being either olive to dark green, reddish brown or black. The shell is covered in bright yellow dots, as are its head, neck and legs. Their plastron (under shell) is yellowish or orangey-red with dark pigmentation, and they have a long-pointed tail. Their eyes have yellow or orange irises and a large contrasting black pupil.
Their habitat is quite variable, as they can be found in coastal lagoons, marshes and slow flowing rivers as well as ditches. They like to have a lot of lush vegetation around as well as sandy or muddy soil. I can vouch for the fact that they are incredibly shy and nervous and will bolt under water to hide in the mud if disturbed. They feed under water on invertebrates, tadpoles carrion and plant matter. I have seen these terrapins in our local weir, but the photos are all from the wonderful Livadi marshes or lagoon as the tourist sign now proclaims.
