Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the ACE Basin
go to previous species
go to Turtlepage
Family: Emydidae
go to next species

Diamondback Terrapin

Malaclemys terrapin

Diamondback Terrapin Female female (top) and male

 

Size (SCL) Males: 10-14 cm (4-5.5 in.) Females: 15-23 cm (6-9 in.)
Identification Highly variable in coloration. Carapace: all black, brown, greenish, sometimes with dark concentric rings on each scute. Plastron: all black, brown, yellow to orange with or without blotches or streaks. Skin: all black, grey with small or large black spots, some with black streaks.
Could be confused with No other species.
Habitat & Biology The only species of turtle in North America that is strictly estuarine. Diurnal and mostly aquatic. May be seen basking on mud flats. Feeds on snails, mussels, crabs, algae, and fish. Overwinter buried in mud in tidal creeks.
Breeding Mating takes place during March-April. Clutchs of 4-12 eggs are deposited in sand dunes during May-August. Up to three clutches per year are laid.
Geographic Range Diamondback Terrapins occur along the entire Atlantic and Gulf coast in saltwater marshes.
Note: Diamondback Terrapins frequently enter crab pots for bait and crabs and drown if they cannot get access to air within 4 hours. Drowning in crab pots is a serious threat to this species. Also: female terrapins frequently cross roads when searching for nesting sites and get killed by cars.

Homepage

 SalamandersSalamanderpage Frogs&ToadsFrogandToadpage

Lizards Lizardpage

 Snakes Snakepage Turtles Turtlepage Alligators