Everything about The Diamondback Terrapin totally explained
The
Diamondback terrapin (
Malaclemys terrapin) is a
species of
turtle native to the
brackish coastal
swamps of the eastern and southern
United States, from as far north as
Cape Cod,
Massachusetts and as far south as
Cape Sable, Florida.
Description
The species is named for the diamond pattern on top of its shell, but the overall pattern and coloration varies greatly by species. Their shell coloring can vary from
browns to
greys, and their body color can be grey, brown,
yellow, or
white. All have a unique pattern of wiggly, black markings or spots on their body and head. The species is
sexually dimorphic in that the males grow to approximately 5 inches, while the females grow to an average of around 7.5 inches, though they're capable of growing larger. The largest female on record was just over 9 inches in length. Specimens from regions that are consistently warmer in temperature tend to be larger than those from cooler, more northern areas.
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Life cycle
Adult diamondback terrapins mate in the early spring, and clutches of 5-12
eggs are laid in sand
dunes in the early summer. They hatch in late summer or early fall. Maturity in males is reached in 2-3 years at around 4.5 inches in length; it takes longer for females: 6-7 years at a length of around 6.75 inches.
Habitat
The habitat of the diamondback terrapin extends from cape cod to Texas along the atlantic and gulf coasts. It is believed to be the only turtle that survives in
brackish water areas. Its predators include skunks, muskrats, raccoons and crows.. These small turtles nest on land and require access to dry soft sand or soil to deposit their eggs. If this species of turtle is
extirpated from its environment it would have a difficult time repopulating its former habitat
Diet
The diamondback terrapin live on a diet of
mollusks,
fiddler crabs, and occasionally small
fish. The terrapin can crush mollusk shells due to the bony plates they've on their upper and lower
mandibles.
Subspecies
- Carolina Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin centrata (Latreille, 1802)
- Texas Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin littoralis (Hay, 1904)
- North Atlantic Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin maximus (Tucker, 1986)
- Ornate Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota (Hay, 1904)
- Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin pileata (Wied-Neuwied, 1865)
- Mangrove Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum (Fowler, 1906)
- East Coast Florida Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin tequesta (Schwartz, 1955)
- Northern Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin (Schoepf, 1793)
Status
The diamondback terrapin is the
state reptile of the
U.S. state of
Maryland and is the official mascot of the
University of Maryland, College Park. The species was once considered a delicacy to eat and was hunted almost to
extinction. Due to this it's listed as an
endangered species in
Rhode Island, is considered a
threatened species in Massachusetts, and is considered a "species of concern" in
Georgia,
Delaware,
Louisiana,
North Carolina, and
Virginia, but it holds no federal status.
Historic uses
Terrapin is derived from an
Algonquian Indian word
torope meaning "edible turtle living in fresh or brackish water." Terrapin was so plentiful in the 1700s that Maryland
slaves protested the excessive use of this food source as their main protein. Late in the 1800s, demand for
turtle soup claimed a harvest of 89,150 pounds from
Chesapeake Bay in one year. In 1899, terrapin was offered on the dinner menu of
Delmonico's Restaurant in
New York as the third most expensive item on the extensive menu. A patron could request either Maryland or Baltimore terrapin at a price of $2.50. Although demand was high, by 1920 the harvest of terrapin, during one year, reached only 823 pounds.
(External Link) The diamondback is also the official mascot of the University of Maryland, College Park. Adopted in 1932 at the urging of Dr. H. Curly Byrd, the diamondback replaced then-current mascot, "the Old Liners."
Further Information
Get more info on 'Diamondback Terrapin'.
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