There are several species of turtles in Turkey. These include sea turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises.
Sea turtles in Turkey include the green turtle and the loggerhead. Turkey is important to both species because they nest along the country’s Mediterranean coastline.
Three freshwater turtles occur in Turkey: the European pond turtle, the Euphrates softshell, and the African softshell. Several European pond turtle subspecies are present in Turkey, such as the central Turkey pond turtle and the western Turkey pond turtle.
Two Mediterranean tortoises also live in Turkey: Hermann’s tortoise and the common (Greek) tortoise.
Table of Contents
Freshwater Turtles in Turkey
Turkey has three widely recognized freshwater turtles you are likely to encounter: the European pond turtle, the Euphrates softshell, and the African softshell. None are found only in Turkey. They occur here and in neighboring regions.
- European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis): dark shell with fine yellow speckling. Widespread in lowland ponds, lakes, and slow streams. Several subspecies occur in Turkey.
- Euphrates softshell (Rafetus euphraticus): large olive softshell with a snorkel like nose. Found in southeastern Anatolia along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and connected wetlands. Threats include dams and habitat change.
- African (Nile) softshell (Trionyx triunguis): powerful swimmer that uses coastal rivers, lagoons, and brackish coves along the south coast. Turkey holds key Mediterranean populations.
Quick ID tips: Softshells have flat leathery shells and long necks. Pond turtles have hard domed shells. On southeastern rivers think Euphrates softshell. In southern coastal lagoons and estuaries think African softshell. Elsewhere in lowland freshwaters think European pond turtle.
1. Euphrates Softshell
- Family: Trionychidae
- Scientific name: Rafetus euphraticus
- Maximum length: 26.8 inches (68 cm)
- Maximum mass: 20 kg (44 lbs)
- Lifespan: 24 to 45 years
- IUCN Red List status: Endangered
The Euphrates softshell is a large freshwater turtle with a smooth leathery carapace that is usually dull olive. Some individuals are brown or even black.
In Turkey, R. euphraticus occurs in southeastern Anatolia. The species range follows the Euphrates and Tigris river systems across Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Look for them in main channels and connected waters such as tributaries, marshlands, ponds, lakes, and oxbow lakes from near sea level to roughly 1,000 meters.
The species is mostly carnivorous and feeds on fish, insects, crabs, and carrion. It may also take plant material.
Mating usually occurs in spring. Nesting runs from April to June and hatching begins in early July. Females lay about 30 to 40 eggs per clutch.
The main threat is habitat degradation, including alteration, fragmentation, and river regulation by dams, which change flow, temperature, and sediment in critical areas.
2. African Softshell
- Family: Trionychidae
- Scientific name: Trionyx triunguis
- Average length: about 33 inches (83 cm)
- Average mass: about 73 lbs (33 kg)
- IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable globally. The Mediterranean subpopulation has been assessed as Critically Endangered in older regional listings.
In Turkey, this species occurs along the southern coast from Dalyan to the Asi River. Beyond Turkey it ranges across parts of West, Central, and East Africa and the Middle East.
It uses deep waters and tolerates brackish conditions. In Turkey you can see it in lagoons, rivers, estuaries, lakes, and occasionally near hot springs.
The diet is mostly animal prey such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects, and mollusks. It may also take fruits such as palm nuts.
Threats in Turkey include direct killing and nest destruction by fishers, bycatch in trawls, boat strikes in busy channels, pollution, and habitat degradation.
European Pond Turtles in Turkey
Several Emys orbicularis subspecies occur in Turkey, including hellenica in the west, luteofusca in central Turkey with a paler yellowish brown carapace, plus colchica, orbicularis, and the localized eiselti near the Syrian border. All favor calm waters with good bank vegetation.
- Look: dark to yellow brown carapace with fine yellow speckling. The head and limbs are often spotted.
- Habitats: ponds, canals, marsh edges, slow streams, and small lakes. They bask on logs and low banks.
- Notes for keepers: these turtles are protected in many places and should not be taken from the wild. Choose captive bred only.
Why this matters for ID: the central Turkey form luteofusca is notably lighter, while others in Turkey tend to be darker. A pale pond turtle in central Anatolia is likely luteofusca.
3. Western Turkey Pond Turtle
- Family: Emydidae
- Scientific name: Emys orbicularis hellenica
- Length: 4.7 to 15 inches (12 to 38 cm)
- Lifespan: 11 to 30 years
- IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened at the species level in Europe. Regional assessments vary.
Emys orbicularis hellenica prefers slow water bodies such as rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds with sandy open nesting spots nearby. Breeding is from spring into early summer. Diet is mainly aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and amphibians, though they will accept plant matter in captivity.
4. Central Turkey Pond Turtle
- Family: Emydidae
- Scientific name: Emys orbicularis luteofusca
- Length: 4.7 to 15 inches (12 to 38 cm)
- Lifespan: 11 to 30 years
- IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened at the species level in Europe. Regional assessments vary.
This subspecies stands out with its yellowish brown carapace compared to darker European pond turtles elsewhere. It occupies lakes, canals, slow streams, and marshy pond margins with basking perches and vegetated banks.
Tortoises in Turkey
Short answer: Two Mediterranean tortoises live in Turkey, the common or Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca) and the Eastern Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri). Both are medium sized and hardy. You will find them in dry scrub, open woodland, and meadows.
- Common or Greek tortoise (Testudo graeca): variable yellow brown shell with dark markings and strong thigh spurs. Turkey holds some of the largest and more secure regional populations.
- Eastern Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri): distinct yellow patterning and a divided tail scute. Found in western Turkey and across the Balkans.
Good to know: buy captive bred animals if you keep tortoises. Wild collection harms local populations and is often illegal. Provide a spacious outdoor pen with sun, shade, hides, and safe plants. See our safe plants list for ideas.
5. Common Tortoise
- Family: Testudinidae
- Scientific name: Testudo graeca
- Other names: Greek tortoise, spur thighed tortoise
- Length: 7 to 8 inches (18 to 21 cm) in T. g. ibera
- Lifespan: 50 to 120 years
- IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable
Turkey has one of the largest and most secure T. graeca populations in the Mediterranean. The subspecies most often reported in Turkey is T. g. ibera. T. g. terrestris also occurs in parts of southern Turkey.
Adults of T. g. ibera are typically 18 to 21 cm long with a yellow brown carapace and darker patches.
As a Vulnerable species it is regulated under CITES Appendix II. If you plan to keep one, choose a captive bred animal.
6. Eastern Hermann’s Tortoise
- Family: Testudinidae
- Scientific name: Testudo hermanni boettgeri
- Other name: Boettger’s tortoise
- Length: 5 to 11 inches (13 to 28 cm)
- Mass: 3 to 4 kg (7 to 9 lbs)
- IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened at the species level
This tortoise occurs in western Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, and parts of Italy. It favors Mediterranean evergreen and oak forests, dry rocky hills, and scrub where it grazes on leafy vegetation.
These are hardy tortoises often kept by experienced keepers. Always choose captive bred animals.
Sea Turtles in Turkey
Turkey is one of the most important places in the Mediterranean for sea turtles. Two species nest here, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Nesting runs from late spring through summer on the south coast.
Where nesting happens
- Major green turtle sites: Akyatan Lagoon and other beaches in the Mersin and Adana region are key. Many seasons, Akyatan supports about one fifth of all Mediterranean green turtle nests.
- Major loggerhead sites: the well known five are Dalyan (İztuzu), Fethiye, Patara, Belek, and Kızılot. Many smaller beaches are also used.
- Other places to watch responsibly: Çıralı and parts of the Antalya coast have active protection groups, marked nests, and night access rules during the season.
Status at a glance: both species are protected and considered threatened worldwide. Loggerheads are globally Vulnerable and green turtles are globally Endangered. Some Mediterranean rookeries show positive trends, but threats like bycatch, light pollution, and coastal development remain.
Visitor tip: during nesting season follow beach signs, avoid lights at night, stay off marked nests, and keep sunbeds and umbrellas away from the upper beach so hatchlings can reach the sea.
7. Green Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific name: Chelonia mydas
- Length: 39 to 47 inches (100 to 119 cm)
- Mass: 150 to 200 kg (330 to 441 lbs)
- Lifespan: up to about 75 years
- IUCN Red List status: Endangered (global)
In the Mediterranean, green turtles nest in large numbers in Cyprus and Turkey. Turkey hosts some of the most important rookeries in the region.
Despite the name, the shell is not green. The species is named for the greenish color of its body fat. Hatchlings are dark and lighten with age.
Nesting beaches in Turkey include Patara Beach, Belek, Kızılot, Demirtaş, Anamur, Göksu, Alata, Kazanlı, Akyatan Lagoon, Akyayan Gölü, Yumurtalık, and Samandağ.
Threats include egg collection, illegal harvest, habitat loss from coastal construction, light pollution, pollution, and disease. International trade is prohibited under CITES Appendix I.
8. Loggerhead Sea Turtle
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Scientific name: Caretta caretta
- Length: about 35 inches (90 cm)
- Mass: about 136 to 181 kg (300 to 400 lbs)
- Lifespan: estimated 30 to 62 years
- IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable (global)
Primary nesting sites along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast include Ekincik Bay, Dalyan (İztuzu), Dalaman, Fethiye, Patara, Kale, Kumluca, Çıralı, Tekirova, Belek, Kızılot, Gazipaşa, Anamur, Göksu, Alata, Kazanlı, Akyatan Lagoon, Akyayan Gölü, Yumurtalık, and Samandağ. The most important loggerhead beaches include Dalyan, Fethiye, Patara, Belek, and Kızılot.
Females may nest two to five times in a season. Nests usually contain 110 to 130 eggs that incubate for 45 to 80 days.
Loggerheads are dietary generalists. Powerful jaws let them crush hard shelled prey like conchs, bivalves, whelks, and crabs, and they also take jellyfish and other invertebrates. International trade is prohibited under CITES Appendix I.
Key threats include bycatch in trawls and gill nets, light pollution that disorients hatchlings, and habitat loss from beachfront development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Turkish turtles make good pets?
Several species found in Turkey are kept as pets, especially the European pond turtle and the two tortoise species. If you want a pet, choose captive bred animals to avoid harming wild populations and to reduce issues with pests and pathogens.
The common tortoise and Hermann’s tortoise are popular for beginners. They are manageable in size and generally hardy when kept with proper husbandry.
Are turtles in Turkey dangerous?
Turtles in Turkey are not dangerous. Like other reptiles, they can carry Salmonella. Wash your hands with soap after handling turtles or anything from their enclosures.
How difficult is it to keep Turkish tortoises as pets?
Eastern Hermann’s and common tortoises are moderately easy for committed keepers. They still need specialized care and space, and they can live for decades, so be ready for a long term responsibility.
Where can you watch sea turtles in Turkey?
During summer, protected beaches across the south coast host nesting. Popular spots include Dalyan (İztuzu), Çıralı, and Akyatan. Follow local rules, avoid lights at night, and keep clear of marked nests.
Conclusion
Turkey is home to sea turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises. Its Mediterranean beaches are vital for green turtles and loggerheads, and its rivers, lakes, and lagoons host unique freshwater species.
Freshwater turtles here include the European pond turtle, the Euphrates softshell, and the African softshell. Tortoises include the common tortoise and Hermann’s tortoise. Choose captive bred animals if you keep any as pets.
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