I’ve only blogged once about the invasive terrapin species that have successfully colonised Britain’s waterways and lakes and that post was about the Red-eared terrapin (Trachemys scripta elegans), in August 2017 (Invasive American Red-eared terrapins).

The other invasive species to be found locally is the Yellow-bellied terrapin (Trachemys scripta scripta), which lacks the distinctive red stripe on each side of its head that gives the Red-eared terrapin its name. I had my closest encounter to date with a Yellow-bellied in early November when I spotted this beast very close to the edge of Cardiff’s Roath Lake. Both species can be seen at Roath Lake, in the lakes at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, on the banks of the River Taff and, no doubt, in other nearby locations.