Terrapin

Terrapins are freshwater turtles that live in a semi-aquatic environment. They can be found near waterholes, ponds, and lakes, and they can live in either fresh or somewhat saline (brackish) water. They frequently swim, but they also spend time on land, sunbathing and occasionally digging in the dirt.Their name is derived from the Native American Algonquian word torope, which means "small turtle."

Their robust shell is sleek but also domed somewhat (like tortoises). Even though they can swim, they lack the flippers of a turtle and instead have tortoise-like legs. You may compare them to a cross between a turtle and a tortoise.

Terrapins are omnivores, eating mollusks, tiny fish, crabs, insects, algae, and other aquatic plants as part of their diet.

Terrapins are venomous and can bite. They have razor-sharp claws and a powerful mouth that snaps. Despite the fact that they lack teeth, they can effortlessly chew off a finger in a single chomp. When they are upset, they may also ‘bark.'

In this article, we will study about terrapin turtle, diamondback turtle and diamondback tortoise its diet, habitat along with conservation status.

Terrapin Turtle

One of the many turtle species is the terrapin. Turtles that spend less time in the water and live near brackish, or a mixture of salt and freshwater, such as a marsh, and swampy environments are known as terrapins. They're a cross between a tortoise and a turtle, spending roughly half of their time on land and the other half in the water. Their shells will be a blend of the streamlined and dome-shaped shells of the turtle and tortoise, respectively, reflecting their similarities to the two.

A terrapin is one of several tiny turtle species that live in fresh or dark-colored water. The word "terrapin" comes from the Algonquian word torope, which referred to the species Malaclemys terrapin.

Terrapin is a word that originated in North America. Some turtles were referred to as "edible turtles" by the Algonquin tribe, and the name "torope" was used to describe them. Following the arrival of European colonists in America, the term "torope" was coined to characterise turtles.

Let’s Understand the Difference Between Turtles, Tortoises and Terrapins

Reptiles having bony or cartilaginous shells include turtles, tortoises, and terrapins. They are members of the Testudines, or Chelonii, taxonomic order, which gets their name from the Greek word khelone, which means interlocking shields or armour. Interestingly, unlike claws, nails, horns, and beaks, their shells contain nerves, allowing them to sense through their shells. They can feel the pressure of weight on their shells, for example, and if their shell is shattered or cracked, they will feel pain.

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They are reptiles in the traditional sense: they are cold-blooded (ectothermic), have scales, breathe air, and lay eggs on land.

The difference between a turtle, tortoise, and terrapin is determined by the habitat in which they are adapted to dwell, albeit terminology varies widely between countries. Depending on where you are in the world, the name "turtle" can refer to any species in the order, or it can exclusively refer to water-dwelling/marine animals.

All chelonians that live in or near water are usually referred to as turtles in America, although the name turtle refers to species that dwell in marine habitats in nations where British English is spoken (such as the United Kingdom and South Africa). At the same time, terrapins are watery animals, while tortoises are terrestrial creatures.

Turtles and tortoises are a group of reptiles that date back around 220 million years. Turtles are the only animals with backbones who also have a shell, which is made up of 59 to 61 bones covered with plates called scutes, which are comprised of the same keratin as our fingernails. Because the shell is permanently linked to the spine and rib cage, the turtle cannot crawl out of it. The carapace is the top of the shell, and the plastron is the bottom. Pressure and discomfort may be felt by turtles through their shells, just as pressure can be felt by your fingernails.

Of course, these are all generalisations, and terms may be interchanged or used in different ways depending on where you reside. However, there are a few widely recognised distinctions between turtles, tortoises, and terrapins in general.

Diamondback Terrapin

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The diamondback terrapin is an aquatic turtle with characteristic diamond-shaped rings adorning its shell. It is Maryland's official state reptile. It inhabits in and around the brackish tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay, including rivers and marshes.

The diamondback terrapin is a well-known turtle in the northeastern United States' coastal salt marshes. These reptiles, which can be found in estuaries, shallow bays, and tidal creeks, like brackish water but require fresh water on a regular basis to avoid dehydration. Excess salt from their bloodstream is secreted by salt glands around their eyes.

The skin of the diamondback can be white, dark grey, or even bluish with black markings. Throughout their range, which stretches from Massachusetts to Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico, and down to southern Texas, there are seven recognised subspecies.

Appearance

The diamondback terrapin's carapace (shell) ranges in hue from brownish to greenish to greyish to nearly black. Black patches or stripes cover their scaly, grey or white skin. Scutes (plates) cover the carapace, which contains diamond-shaped concentric growth rings that may be a different colour than the remainder of the shell. The plastron, or shell's underside, is a yellowish or greenish tint. Terrapins have webbed feet with strong claws and a horned beak with a black "moustache" above the mouth. They can reach a length of 9 inches, with females being substantially larger than males.

Diet

Depending on where they live along their range, diamondback terrapins eat a variety of marsh crabs, snails, mussels, clams, and barnacles. Barnacles, blue crabs, marsh crabs, snails, and mussels are their primary food sources in Virginia. Terrapins' upper and lower jaws include bone plates that may crush mollusc shells.

Habitat

From Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Corpus Christi, Texas, brackish coastal wetlands can be found throughout the eastern and southern United States.

Age & Sexual Maturity

Diamondback terrapins can live to be 40 years old. Males reach sexual maturity at the age of 2–3 years and females at the age of 6–7 years.

Status

Diamondback terrapins were previously abundant in the Chesapeake Bay, but commercial harvesting supported the demand for turtle soup destroyed their populations from the late 1880s through the early 1900s. Due to low terrapin populations and Prohibition, the commercial demand for terrapins disappeared by the 1930s, as sherry was another essential ingredient in the soup.

Habitat degradation, boat collisions, and nest predation by raccoons and other animals are all hazards to diamondback terrapins. Their greatest danger, though, is drowning in crab pots. The same bait that attracts blue crabs to crab pots also attracts terrapins. The turtles can't get out once they're inside, and because they're air-breathing animals, they drown. The problem is especially acute in recreational crabbers' pots, which are often placed in shallow waters near creeks and marshes. Male terrapins and juvenile female terrapins both use this area as a breeding ground.

Diamondback Turtle

The Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is named from its diamond-shaped plates (scutes) on its shell! In addition, this turtle is frequently mistaken for the sole true terrapin. The Emydidae family of American pond turtles includes the Diamondback terrapin. Another fascinating feature of these turtles is the black speckles that cover their body, which resemble freckles or poppy seeds.

These turtles come in a variety of colours, from gleaming silver to off-white to grey and even black! Their shells come in a variety of colours, including brown, grey, yellow-brown, and black. It's safe to state that they come in a variety of colours.

As these turtles have such a long lifespan - up to 40 years - they undergo significant transformations by the time they reach adulthood! Even more fascinating is the fact that female Diamondbacks can grow to be twice as large as males. Females can grow up to 30 cm in length, while males are considered medium-sized, reaching up to 15 cm.

Diamondback Tortoise

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Tortoises are only found on dry soil and like to dwell in hot, dry climates. Their shells, unlike those of sea turtles, are fashioned like a dome, and their feet are column-like with claws.

They are not good swimmers but will enter bodies of water (such as a waterhole or even a puddle) to clean themselves or drink water on occasion.

Tortoises are predominantly herbivorous, consuming low-lying plants, cactus, grasses, weeds, fruit, and other sorts of vegetation, despite the fact that they are known to eat a tiny quantity of meat.

Tortoises, like marine turtles, can grow to be fairly large and survive for a very long time. The Galapagos and Indian Ocean giant tortoises, as well as the Seychelles' Aldabra tortoise, are the largest. They may reach a maximum weight of 417 kg and a length of 1.3 metres.

Jonathan,  187-year-old as per data of 2019, Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) that lives on the island of St. Helena, is the world's oldest living tortoise (also known as the world's oldest living terrestrial mammal).

Tortoise species differ greatly in size, colour, and other characteristics. Padlopers, members of the genus Homopus, are the smallest and can grow up to 6 inches in length. They are located in southern Africa. Giant tortoises, which belong to the genus Geochelone, can have shells that are more than 3.3 feet long.

Tortoises come in a vast range of sizes, colours, and other characteristics, with almost 50 species scattered throughout more than 15 genera. Some are exclusively found in the wild, while others are kept as pets. Several species are on the verge of extinction, yet conservation efforts have aided population growth in some situations. Tortoises are the world's longest-living terrestrial animals, with an average lifespan of 80 to 150 years.

Did You Know?

• Maryland's official state reptile is the diamondback terrapin.

• They are said to be the world's only turtle that solely lives in brackish water.

• The word "terrapin" stems from an Algonquin word for brackish-water edible turtles.

• Counting the growth rings on a terrapin's scutes can help you figure out how old it is.

• Scutes on terrapins, like fingerprints on humans, are unique to each individual.

• The popularity of terrapin soup destroyed terrapin populations in the 18th and 19th centuries. Terrapins are now protected by a slew of laws.

5 Incredible Facts About Tortoise

• Survivors: Tortoises may go for long periods of time without drinking or eating anything. They were frequently carried on the backs of whaling ships and utilised as a source of fresh meat during long trips.

• Persistent: Tortoises, like other turtles, move slowly. Tortoises sip dew off stones on desert islands, producing half-sphere depressions in the granite.

• Long Living: Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is said to have lived for 255 years. There are some additional tortoises that have lived well beyond 150 years.

• Widespread: Tortoises are found all over the world, from southern North America to southern South America, across Eurasia to Southeast Asia across the Mediterranean basin, on Madagascar in Sub-Saharan Africa, and on several pacific islands.

• Ancient: Turtles and tortoises are thought to have appeared approximately 220 million years ago.

Conclusion:

Finally, we can state that turtles, tortoises, and terrapins are all members of the Chelonian reptile family. Tortoises and turtles differ in that tortoises are herbivores that live on land, while turtles are omnivores who live in the sea. Small turtles that dwell in brackish water are known as terrapins. Tortoise populations differ depending on the species and area. The IUCN has classified several species as Critically Endangered, including the radiated tortoise, Madagascar tortoise, and spider tortoise.