European pond terrapin
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| iEuropean Pond Terrapin | ||||||||||||||
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| Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The European pond terrapin (also European pond turtle or European pond tortoise), Emys orbicularis is a turtle found in southern and central Europe, West Asia and North Africa.
It lives in and around slow-flowing water and hibernates for up to seven months of the year at the bottom of the water. Its shell is brown with a hint of green, spotted yellow.
The common European pond terrapin is sometimes described as the subspecies Emys orbicularis orbicularis to distinguish it from the Suedkaspi Pond Turtle (Emys obicularis orientalis) and may also incorporate one or more Caucasian subspecies which has not been fully described.
[edit] Parasites
This species hosts several species of parasites, including Haemogregarina stepanovi, monogeneans of genus Polystomoides, vascular trematodes of genus Spirhapalum and many nematode species.
[edit] References
- Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). Emys orbicularis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006.
[edit] External links
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