Non-native Terrapins of Germany (2024)

This dataset is the base of the first comprehensive publication on non-native terrapins in Germany (Schloddarick et al. 2026).

It consists of 1663 terrapin observations from iNaturalist (n=1268) and three other sources, namley Tietz 2020 (n=209), Schradin 2020 (n=179) and Koppetsch 2021 (n=7). For full citations, see below. The iNaturalist project "Turtles of Germany" is ongoing and accessible here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/turtles-of-germany

107 records, which are part of the publication, are not included in this dataset as they were recieved from the Federal Environment Agency Baden-Württemberg (LUBW), and we are not permitted to publish those. However, this data can always be requested directly from the respective authority.

Citations:

Koppetsch, T. (2021). The Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis (Testudines: Trionychidae) near the High and Upper Rhine in Germany and Switzerland.

Schloddarick, H., Griesbaum, F., Vamberger, M., & Penner, J. (2026). Striking diversity and distribution of non-native chelonians in Germany. NeoBiota, 107, 207-224. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.107.178668

Schradin, C. (2020). Successful reproduction of Trachemys scripta in the Altrhein of Kehl (Germany) and simultaneous increase of estimated population size. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.06.240788

Tietz, B. (2020). Population Genetic Analysis of Non-Native Terrapins in Baden-Württemberg. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Freiburg, Germany.