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We have
in the UK so if you see one it is certainly an exotic
species. Be sure to report it as they are a potential predator
of our native wildlife - this includes frogs, fish and wildfowl
chicks. Try to inform the relevant manager of the water
body/waterway and the RSPCA (as it is an abandoned pet).
This terrapin has become quite common in the UK, appearing in
park ponds, lakes and various waterways; it is usually seen
basking in sunny weather. It has a red, yellow or orange flash
behind the eye and yellow striped on the head and neck. The
shell is green, olive or brown with yellow and black markings,
and is up to 30cm long.
Has a similar appearance to the red-eared terrapin but is less
likely to be encountered in the wild. It also has no distinct
flash behind the eye and is more dark brown in colour. The shell
is relatively flattened and up to 20cm long.
This terrapin is native to Iberia and the south west Balkans; it
is occasionally imported to Britain and rarely encountered. It
can tolerate polluted or brackish water. The stripe-necked
terrapin looks similar to the
European pond terrapin but with distinct stripes on the neck and
usually a central keel down the back of the shell. The shell is
grey-brown or greenish and up to 20cm long.
This powerful freshwater terrapin has been imported from the USA
for the pet trade. Even young specimens have extremely strong
jaws and can inflict a severe bite. We do not advise the
public to try and handle this speices. The shell is up to 50cm long and dark brown,
with ridged/serrated scales towards the back. They have a
relatively large head with a hooked 'beak' and a long ridged
tail.
This species is sometimes imported to the UK through the pet trade from North
America. It prefers slow-moving, shallow water and feeds on a
variety of plant and animals species. It is smaller than the
red-eared terrapin (shell up to 25cm long) and has a smooth,
flattened, olive (or black) shell with red or yellow markings
along the edges of the scales. There are yellow or red stripes
on the neck.
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