Variation of Sicilian pond turtles, Emys trinacris – What makes a species cryptic?

Abstract. Variation of the Sicilian pond turtle, Emys trinacris, is described, based on morphological data of more than 200 adult and immature turtles and mtDNA sequences of 31 new known-locality specimens. Emys trinacris is morphologically more variable than thought before. There exist pronounced population-specific differences. Adults are barely distinguishable from Emys orbicularis galloitalica. Hatchlings of E. trinacris are, however, significantly different patterned, allowing immediate species determination. Moreover, hatchlings of E. trinacris seem to be on average smaller and lighter than in E. orbicularis. This could be related with different reproductive strategies. Coloration pol…