11 Types of Turtles In Europe

There are 11 different types of turtles in Europe, 6 of which are freshwater species and the other 5 being sea turtle species.

Turtles are mostly adaptive and are found on every single continent except for Antarctica. Europe has recorded about five or so species, not including sea turtles.

Due to the climate of Europe, turtles will choose to make homes out of the more temperate areas such as Italy, Spain, or the Mediterranean, and more.

While most turtles are legal to keep, it is typically illegal to trade, import, breed, or sell turtles under EU law. It is illegal to release turtles into the wild.

Turtles can make really awesome pets for those who find them interesting and know what needs to be done to care for them.

However, Europe is somewhat limited in options since there are not many species that live in the colder countries and the turtle trade is quite dry in these areas.

Even so, there are still many interesting species to learn about, especially if you are a keeper or enthusiast.

Turtles in Europe

Here are some turtles you might find in Europe:

1. European Pond Turtle

Quick Facts

Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Family: Emydidae
Scientific Name: Emys orbicularis
Common Names: European Pond Terrapin, European Pond Tortoise
Adult Size: 5 to 15 inches
Lifespan: 28 years
Distribution: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Sardinia, France, Corsica, Spain, Balearic Islands, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Iran, Soviet Union, Latvia, Lithuania

Quick Care Requirements

Tank Size: 40 gallons per turtle
Food: Fish, amphibians, mollusks, and aquatic worms
UVB Lighting: Needed
Water Temperature: 77 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit
Basking Spot Temperature: 90 degrees Fahrenheit

While they are widely distributed throughout Europe, they are actually native to the Western Palearctic.

Their appearances will vary depending on geography, but they can be identified by their dark carapace and skin with bright yellow, almost gold-like, speckles all throughout their body.

2. Spanish Pond Turtle

Spanish pond turtle (Mauremys leprosa) – source

Quick Facts

Experience Level: Not Recommended
Family: Geoemydidae
Scientific Name: Mauremys leprosa
Common Names: Spanish Leprous Pond Turtle, Mediterranean Pond Turtle, Mediterranean Turtle
Adult Size: Around 7 to 8 inches
Lifespan: 25 years
Distribution: The Mediterranean Basin,France, Portugal, Spain

This species of turtle is seen in the wild and less in the turtle-keeping community.

They are typically olive-green or grey in color and have long necks. Their coloration is pretty uniform throughout their body but there may be some yellow striping of the neck or cream colorations in some individuals.

3. Balkan Pond Turtle

Quick Facts

Experience Level: Intermediate
Family: Geoemydidae
Scientific Name: Mauremys rivulata
Common Names: Western Caspian Terrapin
Adult Size: 7 to 10 inches
Lifespan: Unknown
Distribution: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.

To keep these freshwater turtles as pets, you will need a lot of outdoor space and a garden pond in order for them to thrive.

These guys are a uniform grey-green or dark grey with small cream-yellow stripes along their neck and sometimes their limbs.

They can be found in the Balkan Peninsula and a few of the Mediterranean islands of the Middle East.

4. Sicilian Pond Turtle

Sicilian Pond Turtle (Emys trinacris) by Marco Pecoraro

Quick Facts

Experience Level: Not Recommended
Family: Emydidae
Scientific Name: Emys trinacris
Adult Size: 6 to 7 inches
Lifespan: Unknown
Distribution: Italy

This wild turtle is only endemic to Sicily, Italy. It is not recommended as a pet since there are not many of them and they have not been studied in captivity.

They are typically poached for the pet trade, which is the biggest threat to this already vulnerable species.

They have a dark grey or black body and carapace with almost an entirely yellow plastron. They can also sometimes have yellow dots all over their skin and shell.

5. The Caspian Turtle

Quick Facts

Experience Level: Expert
Family: Geoemydidae
Scientific Name: Mauremys caspica
Common Names: Striped-Neck Terrapin, Caspian Terrapin
Adult Size: 10 inches
Lifespan: 18 years old
Distribution: European Turkey

These turtles are not best as pets due to their very specific eating habits and needs.

They are tan, grey to black in color, while some may have a brown shell and thin stripes along their neck. They have an oval-shaped, low domed carapace.

Other individuals may have a yellow plastron.

They are highly aquatic turtles that mostly don’t do well in captivity due to owners not being able to meet their needs.

6. African Softshell Turtle

African Softshelled Turtle (Trionyx triunguis)

Experience Level: Expert
Family: Trionychidae
Scientific Name: Trionyx triunguis
Common Names: Nile Softshell Turtle
Adult Size: 44 inches
Lifespan: 24 to 45 years
Distribution: Greece, Turkey

These large turtles are almost extinct, with only 3 of their species left. Conservationists are trying to get viable sperm to create a fourth.

They are brown-olive grey with white spots all over their bodies. Some individuals might even have yellow rings on them.

Their plastrons are white and their noses are snorkel-like with a thick piece of skin over their mouths.

These turtles are not only big, but they’re super aggressive, meaning that attempting to hold one can mean losing a limb since they have pretty long necks and a sharp mouth.

These are only a few of the reasons that they are not the most suitable house pet. They are definitely an interesting species to check out and learn about, especially since there are only a few left, although, we hope that will change.

Sea Turtles in Europe

Here are some sea turtles you might find in Europe:

7. Leatherback Sea Turtle

newly hatched Baby leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea) — Newly hatched Baby leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys Coriacea)

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Dermochelys Coriacea
Family: Dermochelyidea
Adult Size: About 6 to 7 feet
Weight: Between 1200 and 1450 pounds
Lifespan: 30 years
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: They like warm waters and can be found in every ocean except the Arctic. They will inhabit calm, shallow lagoons or bays. They love to nest on sand, sloping beaches with good vegetation.
Clutch Size: 100 to 110 eggs.
Food: Mainly jellyfish but sometimes some fish and other marine creatures.
Appearance: It is the only sea turtle that lacks a hard shell, which is dark grey to black in color, sometimes showcasing scattered white spots or blotches. Their dark carapace is elongated and flexible with long ridges running down its length.
Distribution: Portugal

8. Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys Imbricata)

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Eretmochelys Imbricata
Family: Cheloniidae
Adult Size: 30 to 35 inches
Weight: between 100 to 155 pounds
Lifespan: About 30 to 50 years
Conservation Status: Critically Endangered
Habitat: Tropical, rocky waters, mangroves, lagoons, or near tropical coral reefs.
Clutch Size: Anything from 140 to 200 eggs; Nesting about 4 times each season or every 2 weeks
Food: Omnivorous; They will feed on sea urchins, jellyfish, mollusks, marine algae, and sponges!
Appearance: They get their name from their unique beak-like mouths, which are similar to hawks. They will show off an elongated, oval-shaped, amber-colored, shell that has unique patterns on it. Their also amber flippers have claws at the “elbows” of them as well!
Distribution: In the Mediterranean Sea off Southern Europe

9. Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
Family: Cheloniidae
Adult Size: between 35 inches and 3 feet
Weight: 154 pounds
Lifespan: 70 to 80 years
Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: Shallow, subtropical coastal regions
Clutch Size: 100 to 125 eggs; nesting 4 to 5 times per season
Food: Carnivorous; they will eat clams, conches, and crabs!
Appearance: Hard-shelled turtles with a reddish-brown color, a yellow underbelly, and long flippers. They have a large head with a defined jaw.
Distribution: Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Cyprus, Libya, and southern Italy.

10. Green Sea Turtle

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Chelonia Mydas
Family: Cheloniidae
Adult Size: 3 to 4 feet
Weight: 300 to 400 pounds
Lifespan: 80 to 100 years
Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical waters in bays and shores by the coastline; anywhere with seagrass beds
Clutch Size: 110 to 115 eggs; Nesting 2 to 5 times per season
Food: Primarily herbivorous, eating seagrass and seaweed, sometimes algae. Sometimes younger green sea turtles will feed on worms, aquatic insects, or small crustaceans.
Appearance: They have nonretractable, small heads and a heart-shaped, brown carapace. They will wear a greenish hue on their scaley skin, will have a cream-colored underside, and beady eyes.
Distribution: In the Mediterranean Sea off Southern Europe

11. Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys Kempii) resting on beach by Mike Oldham — Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys Kempii) resting on beach by Mike Oldham

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Lepidochelys Kempii
Family: Cheloniidae
Adult Size: About 25 inches
Weight: 77 to 100 pounds
Lifespan: 30 years
Conservation Status: Critically endangered
Habitat: Shallow muddy or sandy coastal lines
Clutch Size: 100 to 110 eggs; nesting 2 to 3 times per season
Food: They love crabs, especially blue crabs, but will also eat shrimps, clams, and mussels
Appearance: Triangular head with a slightly hooked beak, greyish-green, circular carapace with a light yellow or cream plastron. Their undersides may also be a pale yellow to cream color.
Distribution: England, the Northern Atlantic coasts of France, Spain