FEATURE ARTICLE

Classified Information   Kingdom:  Animalia     Phylum:  Chordata       Class:  Reptilia         Order:  Testudines           Family:  Emydidae             Genus:  Malaclemys               Species:  terrapin

Range: The northern variety of the diamondback terrapin, common to Maryland, occurs along the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC. They are the only turtle exclusive to brackish water habitats. Terrapins stay close to their natal nests and are not likely to repopulate other areas.

Appearance: The diamondback terrapin's shell (carapace) is covered with scales, or scutes, that bear deep, diamond-shaped growth rings. The carapace is wedge-shaped and widest at the rear. It is light brown, gray, or black in color while the bottom shell (plastron) ranges from yellow to olive. Black spots or wiggly lines appear in a unique pattern on the terrapin's whitish skin.

Feeding: Diamondbacks are omnivores, feeding upon fishes, snails, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and marsh plants. They have beaks, instead of teeth, and are classified as predators rather than scavengers.

Reproduction: Male terrapins reach sexual maturity by age seven (1 lb. turtle) where as females do not reach sexual maturity until 12 years of age (7 lb. turtle). In our area, mating occurs in May, always occurs in the water and usually at night.

Female terrapins store sperm and can produce fertilized eggs up to four years after mating. In June and July, females move from marsh creeks onto the land to bury 4-18 eggs in 6-inch-deep sand nests. Like most turtle species, the temperature of the diamondback's nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. In higher temperatures, more females develop and vice versa. After 60-120 days, the inch-long hatchlings leave the nest and enter the nearest water on their own. A late hatch may remain buried and hibernate with the adult terrapins for the winter. Only 1-3% of the eggs that are laid produce a hatchling with survivorship of the hatchlings as low.

Management: During the 19th century, terrapin meat was being served as a delicacy, which lead to the decimation of diamondback population in our area. In 1878, Maryland passed legislation that limited terrapin harvesting. New laws were enacted in 1929 and some of these are still in effect today. It is illegal to catch terrapins between May 1 and July 31 or tamper with terrapin eggs. Also, terrapins less than six inches can not be collected at all. Terrapin hunting now requires a license but there is no limit to the harvest.

Threats: The increased development around the Bay has destroyed suitable nesting sites and increased road mortalities of nesting females. Fishing mortalities of terrapins trapped in crab traps led to the development of the By-catch Reduction Device, a wire opening in the upper part of the crab pot, allowing most trapped terrapins to escape. Other threats to the terrapin include incidental kills by motor boats, egg predation by raccoons, muskrats, skunks and crows and the pet trade.

GET INVOLVED!!

Terrapin Station is a Maryland Fisheries Service project designed to involve the public in fisheries management issues. This project promotes nest protection, hatch-and-release programs, tag-and-release experiments, and tracking studies. For more information, go to www.dnr.state.md.us/terrapin/.

This story was complied by Laura B. Carrier.

http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/Extension/msgsnn/msgsnn04_2/terrapin.html