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Simply spectacular!

Yes, I have.
When I remember me right, between Kozani and the border to Macedonia (to Bitola).
The red color comes from haematite (Fe2O3), or simply rust, in the water. It will get lost, when these turtles are kept in iron-free water.

Mario

You are exceptional, Mario! It is true!

Hi to everybody
Mario is correct - this high iron-level is one explanation for this effect - In Your case most probably
Another explanation are layers of red algae but the very seldom cover the plastron and carapax copletely.
I suppose Your animals were found in a swamp or in a warm water body with silt bottom.
One regular place for this effect Kamena Vourla 120km north of Athens - a place with iron saturated thermal wells
regularely visited by greek people for therapeutic reasons.
Besides these habitats are rarely frequented by Mauremys. This terrapin I never saw with such an effect.

wishes to all
Peter F. Keymar Vienna

I do not think they are algae, but it is ferrous salts that are combined with elements forming the carapace.
In addition, the ponds where I found these examples do not show or murky water full of algae, but apparently they are clean and clear
As for the Mauremys ...... look below!

have you ever seen ?

on Lesbos island.

I´m woundering, how the yougster have climbed up on its mother?

Mario

Hi everyone,

What about this Emys? It's from the Arda river in southern Bulgaria! The rocks on the bottom of the river are exactly the same color and there were mines (closed now) in the nearby town. So,is it the iron that makes both rocks and turtles "rusty" or is it an adaptation of the turtle to the habitat?

Hi Ilian,

your Emys is a crazy looking individual!
It looks like, there are also haematite deposites on the shell (carapax, plastron?).
But, additional, the carapax seems to lack black colors (amelanistic).

Anyway, a very nice looking turtle!

Mario

This photo is from last year! This year I saw exactly the same looking individual in the same area and I doubt it's the same from the photo, so I think there are more "rusty" ones there..