Diamondback terrapin: Malaclemys terrapin
In the Wild
Description:
 Grayish to nearly black
 Get their name from the concentric furrows on their carapace
 Usually has spots or streaks of black on gray skin
 White upper lip
 Hind legs are large and the toes are webbed beyond the bases of the nails
 Females are larger (carapace length of about 6-9 inches or 15-24 cm), while males are
smaller (carapace length is about 4-6 inches or 10-14 cm
Habitat and Range:
 Brackish water (salt marshes, estuaries, tidal streams, tidal flats, coastlines). The only
terrapin in the US to spend its entire life in brackish water.
 Coastal areas of eastern USA.
Diet
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Wild: Eats snails, other mollusks, crustaceans, fish, aquatic invertebrates, insects and
carrion
Jaws adapted for crushing hard-shelled mollusks
At the Zoo: pellets, fish, insects, worms
Adaptations
 Flattened shell and webbed feet aid swimming
 Gland at the corner of the eye excretes excess salt
 Long nails for foraging
Lifespan
 Up to 40 years
Ecosystem relationships
 Raccoons predate on eggs and nesting females
 Eggs and hatchlings are preyed upon by a wide variety of animals including crabs, crows,
gulls, rats, muskrats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, and mink.
Reproduction
 Mating takes place in the spring
 Female terrapins do not reproduce until they are 8 to 13 years old.
 In the summer months, females dig 6-inch deep nests in the sand of beaches and dunes
to lay their eggs. I
 Incubation from 60-85 days depending on soil temperature and nest depth
 Upon hatching, hatchlings enter the nearest waterway and spend early years upstream
in creeks
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Diamondback terrapin: Malaclemys terrapin
Activity
 Diurnal
 Hibernate in the winter, buried in the mud
Other “fun facts”
 Maryland state reptile and the mascot of the University of Maryland
 It is believed to be the world’s only turtle that lives exclusively in brackish water
Conservation Status and Threats:
 Listed as lower risk/near threatened by IUCN
 Federally listed as a “species of concern,” which is an informal term that refers to
species that might be in need of concentrated conservation actions
 Not listed in Maryland, but they are protected. It is illegal to take or possess them for
commercial purposes.
 Incidental mortality by drowning in crab traps appears to be a major problem. This
affects males more often, due to their smaller size, which also disrupts sex ratios and
breeding.
 Also threatened by habitat loss and degradation
 In the late 1800s and early 1900s, diamondback terrapins were hunted to near
extinction for their meat. They were considered a gourmet delicacy.
 Populations recovered after prohibition and the Great Depression reduced demand
At the Zoo
Hope was donated to the Embassy in 1985 as a hatchling. Diana was donated by a private
individual in 1992 after being purchased at a fish market.
What We Can Do
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Support efforts to prevent terrapin capture in crab traps through “by-catch reduction
devices.” These devices are small enough to prevent terrapins from entering the trap,
but large enough that legal sized crabs can still enter.
Support the conservation efforts of organizations such as the Maryland Zoo and The
Maryland DNR
Tread carefully when visiting wetlands – stick to dedicated paths to avoid disturbing
habitat
Make environmentally responsible lifestyle decisions to help conserve habitat –
conserve energy, reduce litter and pollution
Dispose of your trash responsibly to avoid runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and
surrounding wetlands.
References:
 www.natureserve.org
 Maryland Zoo Education Department
 www.aqua.org
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Diamondback terrapin: Malaclemys terrapin
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www.usfws.gov
www.iucnredlist.org
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/
http://www.terrapinconservation.org/home.htm
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