Turtles are not only found in tropical seas and islands, they are very close to you in several rivers and lakes in Spain.
The Cosmic Turtle or World Bearing Turtle is a myth in which a giant tortoise holds the world in its shell. It appears in Hindu mythology, Chinese mythology, and the mythologies of the indigenous peoples of America. It is not surprising, because these adorable animals are found all over the planet, including the Iberian Peninsula.
Many turtles present in rivers and lakes in Europe and Asia have their native version in our country. Native tortoises are threatened by habitat destruction due to agriculture and urbanization, but also by invasive species of tortoises from other countries and people who take and sell them as pets. These are some of the turtles we should help to conserve:
european lake turtle
This turtle called orbicularis emys is a single species with many subspecies. It measures between 12 and 38 cm, its carapace is very dark with yellowish-green spots, and the plastron (underside) is pale yellow. Two autochthonous subspecies can be found in Spain: the fritzjuergenobsti and the Hispanic.
It has been observed that an adult’s diet starts off carnivorous and progresses to a more herbivorous diet as it ages and grows in size. It is found in central and southern Europe, Western Asia and the Mediterranean area of Africa, near calm waters. It hibernates during the cold months at the bottom of the water.
mediterranean tortoise
This turtle belongs to the species testudo hermannibut the Iberian subspecies is Testudo hermanni hermanni, much smaller in size than the others. They have a black and yellow shell when they are young and usually turn gray when they become adults.
This tortoise lives in dry areas with abundant scrubland and is strictly herbivorous. They are an endangered and protected species, and it is illegal to keep them as pets.
black turtle
The species name is testudo graeca, and measures about 18 centimeters. The shell is convex, yellowish olive green. It is very similar to the Mediterranean tortoise, but it differs because the supracaudal shield, the part of the carapace that is on the tail, is not divided like in the first one.
It is found in areas of calm waters with abundant vegetation, and its diet is almost exclusively carnivorous: they eat earthworms, snails and small fish. It is a highly endangered species.
leprous turtle
Photograph: Bernard DUPONT
This species is called leprous Mauremys and measures about 20 centimeters in length. The carapace is flat, green, brown or brown, and the plastron is yellow. Younger specimens often have reddish lines on the neck. Its name is due to the fact that certain algae grow on the bark and flake it off.
It is the most common species in our lakes and rivers. It is also found in swamps and areas with abundant vegetation, and also in carnivores.
Most of these turtles are in danger of extinction, and having them at home is a form of mistreatment of animals and contributes to the destruction of the ecosystem. Let’s learn to respect our fascinating turtles.
Science of Quo Travel Section sponsored by hyundai
