Western Caspian Turtle

Western Caspian Turtle

Mauremys rivulata

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
at Jerusalem

In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%

28 Verified sightings at Jerusalem
September Best month

About the Western Caspian Turtle

The Balkan terrapin or western Caspian terrapin (Mauremys rivulata) is a species of terrapin in the family Geoemydidae. It is found in the eastern Mediterranean region. While technically omnivorous, the terrapins are known to prefer meat. They can grow to 25 cm (10 in) in carapace length, although hatchlings are usually only 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) in length.

It is found in the Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia), in a number of Mediterranean islands including Crete, Cyprus and Lesvos, and in the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey). On some Greek and Turkish islands where the terrapins are found, they may be threatened with extirpation.

Mauremys rivulata are fairly large, with carapace lengths up to 25 cm (10 in); hatchling turtles of this species are usually between 3 and 4 centimetres (1.2 and 1.6 in) in length. The average strait carapace length is roughly 15 cm (6 in); females are slightly larger. The terrapins' carapaces are black to olive green in colour, and the plastron (the shell on the belly) black, although the latter frequently fades... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:05

Greece · 2023

© sixtyna · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Antalya 🇹🇷 Turkey
~50%
2 Jerusalem 🇮🇱 Israel
~40%
3 Tel Aviv 🇮🇱 Israel
~20%
4 Athens 🇬🇷 Greece
~10%
5 Istanbul 🇹🇷 Turkey
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Zoo Pilsen 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
2 Bioparque Municipal Vesty Pakos 🇧🇴 Bolivia In captivity
3 Hai Kef 🇮🇱 Israel In captivity
4 Tel Aviv University Zoo 🇮🇱 Israel In captivity
5 Animal - Bird Collection 🇬🇷 Greece In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Western Caspian Turtle in Jerusalem?

Likely

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Western Caspian Turtle sighting in Jerusalem on a given day, based on 28 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 4th most-seen of the 10 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Western Caspian Turtle in Jerusalem?

September

In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Western Caspian Turtle in Jerusalem on a given day, against under 5% in October and December–January, the lowest months. That is one of Jerusalem's driest months, with almost no rain against 90 mm in January.

Is Jerusalem the best place to see a Western Caspian Turtle?

2nd of 5

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Western Caspian Turtle sightings, Jerusalem ranks 2nd at about 40%. The best odds are in Antalya (Turkey, about 50%).

Where does the Western Caspian Turtle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Western Caspian Turtle is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Jerusalem (28 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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