Mississippi map turtle ? (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni)
Old Crematorium Pond, City of London Cemetery, 11 February 2024
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Mississippi map turtle ? (Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni) |
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Old Crematorium Pond, City of London Cemetery, 11 February 2024 |
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I am not certain this is the correct species, but it looks like one of the 'Map Turtles', Graptemys species. These originate from the Central United States, and have been introduced in Europe. This one was the only terrapin (turtle) to be seen, basking in the sun in the Old Crematorium Pond of the City of London Cemetery. There are two other species of terrapin in the pond, but this was the first time I had seen this one. It is quite distinctive, both in skin colouring and the shell-shape, with distinctive saw-ridges down its centre-line. I can't find any references to the species having been seen 'in the wild' in the UK, but it could easily have been released into the pond by someone no longer wishing to keep it as a 'pet'. | |||||