Diamondback Terrapin
Latin Name: Malaclemys terrapin
Species: Reptile
Conservation Status: S3 - Vulnerable
Eastern diamondback terrapins are a species of turtle with striking and unique features. Their skin ranges in color from ivory to grey and is covered in dark freckles of various shapes and sizes. Their shell has scute patterns resembling diamonds, giving them their name. Each scute of their shell displays a concentric growth ring pattern, which can be green, yellow, brown, ebony, or black. The patterns and colors of both their skin and shell are extremely diverse, with no two being exactly alike. These creatures exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males being much smaller, measuring around 5-6 inches in carapace length, whereas females can reach up to 9 inches in length.
Range & Habitat (map)
Eastern diamondback terrapins are the only turtles endemic to the coastal marshes of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S. The six subspecies span from Cape Cod south to Florida and west to Texas. Interestingly, despite their vast species range, these animals display individual high home range site fidelity. Individual terrapins rarely explore other tidal creeks or travel outside tidal creeks, typically only doing so for breeding purposes.
Diet
Terrapins are opportunistic feeders but mainly diet on hard-shelled organisms such as periwinkle snails, juvenile blue crabs, fiddler crab species, and mud crabs.
Life History
Mating takes place during early spring or late fall and can occur between individuals or in large groups. The female terrapins lay 1-2 clutches of eggs on land, containing 4-18 eggs each. These eggs hatch either in late summer or the following spring, and the hatchlings emerge from the nest. However, it is still unknown where terrapins spend the first 4 years of their lives. Some theories suggest that they hide in tidal wrack and grasses on shallow mud flats.
Significance
As the only turtle species that spends its whole life in the salt marsh, eastern diamondback terrapins are an important symbol of the Port Royal Sound ecosystem. Terrapins are both predators and prey in small tidal creek ecosystems. Coastal eagle populations have been observed preying on them.
Threats & How You Can Help
Terrapins were once considered a valuable source of food for making turtle soups, which led to a significant decline in their population during the early 1900s. However, as the demand for turtle soup decreased and conservation efforts increased, the population of terrapins began to recover. Unfortunately, they are once again facing major threats such as habitat loss, water quality decline, and the crabbing industry, leading to significant mortality events. Adding a turtle excluder to crab pots is important to prevent terrapin entrapment and drowning.