Why do we call them terrapins and not turtles?Terrapins are a type of turtle. They can live in freshwater like some other turtles BUT can also live in salt water, too. This type of mix of salty and fresh water is called brackish waters. Other types of turtles could not survive where the Diamondback Terrapins thrive.
Why are they called "Diamondback" Terrapins?
The shell or carapace of the terrapin has diamond shaped sections also called scutes. The rings of the scutes can help indicate the age of the terrapin. See the image to the left of a female terrapin's carapace.
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Where are terrapins found?
Diamondback terrapins can be found from Cape Cod, MA all the way down to the the gulf coast of Texas. They inhabit salt marsh ecosystems with brackish waters. While they range along the entire east coast and gulf, their habitat along the coastline is very specific and narrow in many areas.
Glenos, S.M. (2013). DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN (MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN) IN GALVESTON BAY, TEXAS IN RELATION TO OTHER NORTHERN GULF COAST POPULATIONS.
Northern Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin)
Florida East Coast Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin tequestra)
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Carolina Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin centrata)
Mangrove Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum)
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Ornate Diamondback Terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota)
Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin pileata)
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Texas Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin littoralis)
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Why are we concerned about Diamondback Terrapins?
Diamondback Terrapins have had a bumpy road to maintain their populations. In the past, they were used as a gourmet food item and their numbers diminished. Nowadays, they are facing other problems like loss of habitat, development of roads and buildings, drowning in crab pots, having their eggs taken by predators, and boats hitting them and disturbing their habitat. Locally, most of these threats are present especially those of roadways complicating their movements to find nesting areas.
In addition, terrapins are important to the delicate salt marsh ecosystem. They eat periwinkle (a type of snail) as part of their diet. If the terrapins were not around to keep periwinkle in check, then the salt grasses would be completely consumed by periwinkle. In turn, our salt marshes would turn into mudflats and completely alter the ecosystem.
As of 2016, Diamondback Terrapins in New Jersey were designated as a nongame indigenous species and affords them protection under "The Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act," P.L.1973, c.309 (C.23:2A-1 et seq.). It is illegal to harvest, catch or take Diamondback Terrapins in the state of New Jersey. See the full act below:
In addition, terrapins are important to the delicate salt marsh ecosystem. They eat periwinkle (a type of snail) as part of their diet. If the terrapins were not around to keep periwinkle in check, then the salt grasses would be completely consumed by periwinkle. In turn, our salt marshes would turn into mudflats and completely alter the ecosystem.
As of 2016, Diamondback Terrapins in New Jersey were designated as a nongame indigenous species and affords them protection under "The Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act," P.L.1973, c.309 (C.23:2A-1 et seq.). It is illegal to harvest, catch or take Diamondback Terrapins in the state of New Jersey. See the full act below:
References
Brennessel, Barbara. Diamonds in the Marsh: A Natural History of the Diamondback Terrapin. Lebanon, NH: University Press of New England, 2006.
Butler, Joseph A., Richard A. Seigel, and Brian K. Mealey. "Malaclemys terrapin- Diamondback Terrapin." Biology and Conservation of Florida Turtles, Chelonian Research Monographs 3, 2006: 279-295.
Crawford, Brian A. , John C. Maerz, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Kurt A. Buhlmann, Terry M. Norton, and Shannon E. Albeke. "Hot spots and hot moments of diamondback terrapin road-crossing activity." Journal of Applied Ecology 51, 2014: 367-375.
Hart, Kristen M., and David S. Lee. "Diamondback Terrapin: The Biology, Ecology, Cultural History, and Conservation Status of an Obligate Estuarine Turtle." Studies in Avian Biology 32, 2007: 206-213.
Helms, Jonathan. 2013. Subspecies. 2013. http://www.diamondbackterrapin.com/index/index.php/description-subspecies/ (accessed June 11, 2020).
Szerlag, S., and S. P. McRobert. "Road occurence and mortality of the northern diamondback terrapin." Applied Herpetology 3, 2006: 27-37.
The Wetlands Institute. Terrapin Conservation. 2014. http://wetlandsinstitute.org/conservation/terrapin-conservation/ (accessed November 17, 2014).
Wood, Roger C., and Rosalind Herlands. "Turtles and Tires: The Impact of Roadkills on Northern Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin, Populations on the Cape May Peninsula, Southern New Jersey, USA." Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration and Management of Tortoises and Turtles-An International Conference. New York Turtle and Tortoise Society, 1997. 46-53.
