The Balkan Terrapin or Western Caspian Terrapin (Mauremys Rivulata)
The Balkan Terrapin, also known locally as the water terrapin or river terrapin, can be found living in the wetlands of Crete, the island's water-rich habitats.
In Crete, terrapins inhabit freshwater or brackish water environments. However, during warm and dry weather, they often bury themselves in mud.
The carapace of the Balkan Terrapin reaches a length of about 30 cm, with females typically being larger than males. This omnivorous reptile primarily consumes a diet consisting of fish, amphibians, snakes, and plants.
Female Balkan Terrapins typically lay clutches of 4 to 6 eggs in holes they dig in the soil.
The fauna of Crete
The Cretan endemic butterfly Zerynthia cretica
Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus Barbatus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps Fulvus)
Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni)
Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata) (Hieraaetus fasciatus)
Eleonora's Falcon
The European Rabbit or Coney
Giorgalidiko: Domestic Horse, North-western European Horse
The Cretan Badger
Golden Eagle (Aquila Chrysaetos)
Mute Swan
Cretan wildcat
Butterflies and Moths of the island
Cretan Tracker: Europe's Oldest Hound, a Gift from Zeus
Cretan shrew
Kri-kri, the Cretan Wild Goat (Capra aegagrus cretica)
Least Weasel
Bats
European Fat/Edible Dormouse
Cat Snake
Balkan Whip Snake
Marginated Tortoise (Testudo marginata)
Greek turtle
Water Snake
European Ratsnake or Leopard Snake
The Bullfrog
The European Green Toad
Common Kingfisher
Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)
Coleoptera
Fossil Vertebrates of Crete
Hippopotamus creutzburgi
Athene cretensis
Elephas chaniensis
Endemic Pleistocene mammals
Deinotherium giganteum