Caspian turtle

Caspian terrapin ( Mauremys caspica )

The Caspian terrapin ( Mauremys caspica ) is one of six species of terrapins. It got its name from its distribution area in the countries east and south of the Caspian Sea.

Features

The Caspian pond turtle has dark side of the abdomen and carapace with bright spots. It is 20 to 25 inches tall.

Dissemination

The Caspian pond turtle is found in Eastern Europe and parts of Asia. From the southern parts of Russia between the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea to eastern Turkey and Iran.

For a long time the Westkaspische turtle ( Mauremys rivulata ) under the name Mauremys caspica rivulata was regarded as a subspecies of the Caspian terrapin. Mauremys rivulata but only occurs in a west of the habitat of Mauremys caspica convenient belt, which extends from south-eastern Europe and Greece about the western Turkey to Lebanon and Israel and Syria.

System

For the Caspian terrapin three subspecies have been defined, which reflect the distribution area from north to south:

• Ostkaspische terrapin ( Mauremys caspica caspica ) in the countries east of the Caspian Sea
• Persian terrapin ( Mauremys caspica ventrimaculata ) in eastern Turkey and northern Iran
• Arab terrapin ( Mauremys caspica siebenrocki ) in southern Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Israel