26 REPTILES OF THE WORLD 



the base of the tail that one does not feel inclined to 

 again become familiar. 



Clemmys is another genus embracing semi-aquatic 

 species — four in number, that inhabit southern Europe, 

 Asia, China and Japan. 



The Ibeeian Turtle, Clemmys lejjrosa, occurs in 

 southern Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and well 

 into northwestern Africa. Old turtles have a smooth, 

 flattened shell. Their colors are somber — olive above, 

 greenish-yellow beneath. The carapace is about eight 

 inches long. 



Gadow explains that the specific name — leprosa — ^has 

 been inspired by a disease that attacks many specimens, 

 giving them a leprous appearance. They abound in 

 streams and pools that partially evaporate during the 

 hot season, then become very stagnant. Wallowing in 

 the unwholesome waters the shell becomes attacked with 

 a fresh-water alga. The infection makes its way 

 through cracks and sutures of the shields, resulting in 

 gangrenous spots and patches. 



As a captive, the species is hardy. A half dozen ex- 

 amples have lived for over five years in the reptile 

 house of the New York Zoological Park. Fish, raw 

 beef, earthworms and lettuce leaves form the greater 

 part of the food, which is always consumed under water. 



Clemmys casinca, found from the southern borders 

 of the Caspian Sea southward through Persia, is a near 

 relative of the preceding turtle. One of the distinguish- 

 ing features consists of yellow streaks on the shields of 

 the upper shell. 



Following the rules of technical classification, we 



find the genus Chelopus to be next in order. Only four 



species are known. All of these are North American. 



In our progress toward the terrestrial chelonians, we 



