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Reptile✓ Protected species

Water Turtle

Emys orbicularis / Trachemys scripta

What to do NOW

  1. 1IMPORTANT: identify the species before acting
  2. 2Emys orbicularis (native): black/dark brown shell, yellow spots — protected species to preserve
  3. 3Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider, invasive): red patches on the sides of the head — NEVER release into water
  4. 4If injured: bowl with a little water, contact herpetological CRAS

NEVER do this

  • Do not release Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) into lakes, ponds, or rivers — it is invasive and decimates native fauna
  • Do not immerse an injured or debilitated turtle in deep water

Important note

The Trachemys scripta (red-eared slider) sold in pet shops has colonised almost all Italian water bodies, threatening the European pond tortoise (Emys orbicularis). If you find a Trachemys: do not release it — contact a CRAS who will know how to manage it responsibly.

Legal protection

Emys orbicularis is protected by Presidential Decree 357/97 (Annexes II and IV). Trachemys scripta is an invasive alien species — its release into the wild is prohibited by EU Regulation 1143/2014.

Also known as

  • freshwater turtle
  • European pond turtle
  • red-eared slider
  • pond terrapin

Similar animals

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