This e-guide Turtles of the World is part of a series of mobile systems for identifying species in nature. They were developed as part of the EC KeyToNature project aiming to provide easy access to flora and fauna information. In addition to this e-guide, others covering sea-mammals, plants, birds, butterflies and fish are available or in preparation.



This app holds information on essentially every recognized species of turtle and tortoise in the world. Featuring multiple color photographs for almost 500 species and (sub)species with sections on recognition, distribution, geographic variation, habitat, natural history, and conservation status and distributions maps. An interactive key allows you to quickly identify turtles. All text is hyperlinked to an illustrated glossary covering 1000+ scientific and etymological terms. In cooperation with Smithsonian Institution Press, Prof. Carl H. Ernst and ETI editor Ruud G.M. Altenburg have updated and extended Ernst and Barbour's standard work "Turtles of the World" (1989).

This app is the smartphone version of the DVD-ROM "Turtles of the World" by C.H. Ernst, R.G.M. Altenburg and R.W. Barbour published by ETI, Netherlands, ISBN: 90-75000-82-0, republished for use on this medium.

Software development and design: 
Studio Sophisti and ETI BioInformatics

Initiative: ETI BioInformatics – KeyToNature Project.

ETI BioInformatics was founded in 1990 by the Dutch government and UNESCO to facilitate easy access to information on taxonomy and biodiversity. Check http://www.eti.uva.nl