Diamondback Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin
Conservation Status
Near ThreatenedReptilia · Emydidae
About
The diamondback terrapin or simply terrapin is a species of terrapin native to the brackish coastal tidal marshes of the East Coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico coast, as well as in Bermuda. It belongs to the monotypic genus Malaclemys. It has one of the largest ranges of all turtles in North America, stretching as far south as the Florida Keys and as far north as Cape Cod.
Fun Fact
The largest female on record was just over 23 cm (9 in) in carapace length.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Live in the very narrow strip of coastal habitats on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States, from as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to the southern tip of Florida and around the Gulf Coast to Texas.
Diet
Eat enough invertebrates to have ecosystem-level effects, partially because periwinkles themselves can overgraze important marsh plants, such as cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora).
Lifespan
40 years
Threats
- Habitat Change
- Human Disturbance