A master's thesis in the College of Science at the University of Basrah discussed the existence and distribution of Aquatic turtles in East Hammar marsh \ Southern Iraq

The thesis, presented by postgraduate student Nabaa Ahmed Majeed. 
 The study aimed to survey the different turtles in the eastern Hammar Marsh/ Southern Iraq and their classification. Air, water, acidity, salinity, and soil texture of the banks of the stations. The study included collecting turtles from three stations in the East Hammar marsh representing different environments during a whole year. Two species of turtles, Mauremys caspica caspica and Rafetus euphraticus were surveyed monthly from East Hammar tidal mesohaline marsh, Southern Iraq (November 2019 to October 2020). The study recommended conducting more surveys about turtles and environmental factors affecting their existence to preserve ecological diversity and species extinction risk.