Abstract
The European pond turtle Emys orbicularis, is an endangered species in Poland. The region of the Ilanka River, in the western part of the country (Lubuskie province), is the most densely inhabited area by the species. Several populous sites are dispersed over the whole area of the province. Over the past 10 years, 279 turtles were captured at 11 sites. In 218 individuals, those with a straight carapace length (SCL) between 2.10–12.10 cm, sex was not determined; the remaining 61 with SCL 13.33–19.85 cm were sexed. Females had bigger bodies and were heavier than males. The SCL of females was 17.10 ± 1.7 cm (average ± SD, n = 33), their body mass (BM) was 790.6 ± 228.7 g (n = 27), and in the case of males SCL was 15.44 ± 1.5 cm and BM was 554.2 ± 138.8 g (n = 28). SCL of the smallest egg laying female was 15.30 cm, and SCL of the smallest mating male was 13.33 cm. The colouration of the turtles which undergoes change with age can be varied.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ayres Fernández, C. & Cordero Rivera, A. 2004. Asymetries and accessory in Emys orbicularis from Northwest Spain. Biologia, Bratislava 59,Suppl. 14: 85–88.
Ayres Fernández, C., Velo, A.G. & Cordero Rivera, A. 2005. The incidence of extra-scutes and anomalies in Iberian populations of Emys orbicularis, p. 51. In: 4th Int. Symp. on Emys orbicularis, Valencia, Spain, 8–10 June 2005.
Farkas, B., Fritz, U., Jendretzke, N. & Schneeweiss, N. 1998. Morphological differences between pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from the Hungarian Lowlands, eastern Poland, and northeastern Germany. Mertensiella 10: 89–94.
Fritz, U. 1992. Zur innerartlichen Variabilität von Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758). 2. Variabilität in Osteuropa und Redefinition von Emys orbicularis orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758) und Emys orbicularis hellenica (Valenciennes, 1832). Zool. Abh. Staatl. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden 47(5): 37–77.
Fritz, U. 1994. Zur innerartlichen Variabilität von Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758). 4. Variabilität und Zoogeografie im pontokaspischen Gebiet mit Beschreibung von drei neuen Unterarten. Zool. Abh. Staatl. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden 48(4): 53–93.
Fritz, U. 1995. Zur innerartlichen Variabilität von Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758). 5a. Taxonomie in Mittel-Westeuropa, auf Korsika, Sardinien, der Apeninen-Halbinsel und Sizilien und Unterartengruppen von E. orbicularis (Reptilia: Testudines: Emydidae). Zool. Abh. Staatl. Mus. Tierkd. Dresden 48(13): 185–242.
Fritz, U. 1998. Introduction to zoogeography and subspecific differentiation in Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758). Mertensiella 10: 1–27.
Fritz, U. 2003. Die Europäische Sumpfschildkröte (Emys orbicularis). Laurenti Verlag, Bielefeld, 224 pp.
Fritz, U. & Obst, F.J. 1995. Morphologische Variabilität in den Intergradationszonen von Emys orbicularis orbicularis und E. o. hellenica. Salamandra 31(3): 157–180.
Jabłoński, A. 2001. Żółw blotny, pp. 274–276. In: Głowaciński, Z. (ed.) Polska czerwona księga zwierząt, Kręgowce, PWRiL, Warszawa.
Jabloński, A. J. 1998. Żółw błotny. Monogr. Przyr. Nr. 3, Świebodzin, 48 pp.
Lenk P., Fritz, U., Joger, U. & Wink, M. 1999. Mitochondrial phylogeography of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758). Mol. Ecol. 8: 1911–1922.
MacCulloch, R.D. 1981. Variation in the shell of Chrysemys picta bellii from southern Saskatchewan. J. Herpetol. 15: 181–185.
Maciantowicz, M. & Najbar, B. 2000. Występowanie żółwia błotnego Emys orbicularis Linnaeus, 1758 na terenie województwa lubuskiego. Przegl. Zool. 44(3–4): 177–191.
Maciantowicz, M. & Najbar, B. 2004. Distribution and active conservation of Emys orbicularis in Lubuskie province (West Poland). Biologia, Bratislava 59,Suppl. 14: 177–183.
Mitrus, S. & Zemanek, M. 2000. Distribution and biology of Emys orbicularis (L.) in Poland, pp. 107–118. In: Hödl, W. & Rössler, M. (eds) Die Europäische Sumpfschildkröte, Stapfia 69.
Mitrus, S. & Zemanek, M. 2004. Body size and survivorship of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis in Central Poland. Biologia, Bratislava, 59,Suppl. 14: 103–107.
Mosimann, D. 2002. Situation einer Population von Europäischen Sumpfschildkröten, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), 50 Jahre nach der ersten Ansiedlung in Moulin-de-Vert (Genf, Schweiz). Testudo 11(4): 25–39.
Najbar, B. & Maciantowicz, M. 2000. Deformations and damages of carapaces European Pond Terrapin Emys orbicularis orbicularis (L.) in Western Poland. Chelonii 2: 88–94.
Najbar, B. & Maciantowicz, M. 2001. The distribution of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis (L.) in the Lubuskie region (western Poland) and the initiative to reconstruct and supply the present sites of this species in the middle Odra region. Bull. Pol. Acad. Sci. 49(2): 127–136.
Pawlaczyk, P. 2005. Roślinność lasów, pp. 129–149. In: Jermaczek, A. & Maciantowicz, M. (eds) Przyroda Ziemi Lubuskiej, Wyd. Klub Przyr., Świebodzin.
Rösler, A. 2005. Położenie i uksztaŧtowanie terenu, pp. 7–17. In: Jermaczek, A. & Maciantowicz, M. (eds) Przyroda Ziemi Lubuskiej, Wyd. Klub Przyr., Świebodzin.
Rössler, M. 2000. Die Fortpflanzung der Europäischen Sumpschildkröten Emys orbicularis (L.) im Nationalpark Donau-Auen (Niederösterreich), pp. 145–156. In: Hödl, W. & Rössler, M. (eds) Die Europäische Sumpfschildkröte, Stapfia 69.
Schneeweiss, N. 1998. Status and protection of Emys o. orbicularis in Brandenburg, Northeast Germany. Mertensiella 10: 219–226.
Schneeweiss, N. & Fritz, U. 2000. Situation, Gefährdung und Schutz von Emys orbicularis (L.) in Deutschland, pp. 133–144. In: Hödl, W. & Rössler, M. (eds) Die Europäische Sumpfschildkröte, Stapfia 69.
StatSoft Inc., 1999. STATISTICA for Windows (Computer program manual). Tulsa, OK: StatSoft, Inc.
Zajchowska, S. 1972. Atlas województwa zielonogórskiego. Wyd. Geol. Warszawa, 40 pp.
Zuffi, M.A.L. & Gariboldi, A. 1995. Sexual dimorphism in Italian populations of the European pond terrapin, Emys orbicularis, pp. 124–129. In: Llorente, G.A., Montori, A., Santos, X. & Carretero M.A. (eds) Scientia Herpetologica, Barcelona.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Najbar, B., Szuszkiewicz, E. The morphometrics and colouration of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis in Lubuskie province (West Poland). Biologia 61, 585–592 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0094-9
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-006-0094-9