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Malaclemys terrapin

Diamondback terrapin
Malaclemys terrapinHolbrookV1P12A.jpg
Hand-colored lithograph from Holbrook's North American Herpetology(1842)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Subfamily: Deirochelyinae
Genus: Malaclemys
Gray, 1844
Species: M. terrapin
Binomial name
Malaclemys terrapin
(Schoepff, 1793)
Synonyms
Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
  • Testudo terrapin Schoepff, 1793
  • Testudo concentrica Shaw, 1802
  • Testudo ocellata Link, 1807
  • Testudo concentrata Kuhl, 1820 (ex errore)
  • Emys concentrica Gray, 1831 (Duméril & Bibron, 1830)
  • Testudo concentrica var polita Gray, 1831
  • Emys terrapin Holbrook, 1842
  • Emys macrocephalus Gray,1844
  • Malaclemys concentrica Gray, 1844 (1863)
  • Emys macrocephala LeConte,1854
  • Emys terrapene LeConte,1856 (ex errore)
  • Clemmys terrapin Strauch, 1862
  • Malaclemmys concentrica Gray, 1870
  • Malacoclemmys terrapen Boulenger, 1889 (ex errore)
  • Malaclemys centrata concentrica Cochran, 1932
  • Malaclemys terrapin Bangs, 1896
  • Malaclemmys centrata concentrica Hay, 1904
  • Malaclemys centrata concentrica Siebenrock, 1909
  • Malaclemys terrapin concentrica Lindholm, 1929
  • Malaclemys terrapin terrapin Lindholm, 1929
  • Malaclemys terapin Iverson, Enrst, Gotte & Lovich, 1989 (ex errore)
  • Malaclemys terrapene Stephens & Wiens, 2003
Malaclemys terrapin centrata
  • Testudo centrata Latreille, 1801
  • Emys centrata Schweigger, 1812
  • Emys concentrica var livida Gray, 1831
  • Clemmys (Clemmys) centrata Fitzinger, 1835
  • Malaclemmys centrata Lönnberg, 1894
  • Malaclemys centrata Paulmier, 1902
  • Malaclemys [centrata] centrata Siebenrock, 1902
  • Malaclemmys terrapin centrata Mittleman, 1944
  • Malaclemys terrapin centrata Mittleman, 1945
  • Malaclemys terrapin centra Highfield, 1996 (ex errore)
Malaclemys terrapin littoralis
  • Malaclemmys littoralis Hay, 1904
  • Malaclemys centrata littoralis Siebenrock, 1909
  • Malaclemys pileata littoralis Stejneger & Barbour, 1917
  • Malaclemys terrapin littoralis Lindholm, 1929
Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota
  • Malaclemmys macrospilota Hay, 1904
  • Malaclemys centrata macrospilota Siebenrock, 1909
  • Malaclemys pileata macrospilota Stejneger & Barbour, 1917
  • Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota Lindholm, 1929
Malaclemys terrapin pileata
  • Emys pileata Wied, 1865
  • Malaclemmys pileata Hay, 1904
  • Malaclemys centrata pileata Siebenrock, 1909
  • Malaclemys pileata pileata Stejneger & Barbour, 1917
  • Malaclemys terrapin pileata Lindholm, 1929
Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum
  • Malaclemys tuberculifera Gray, 1844 (nomen oblitum)
  • Malaclemmys littoralis rhizophorarum Fowler, 1906 (nomen protectum)
  • Malaclemmys terrapin rhizophorarum Carr, 1946
  • Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum Carr, 1952
  • Malaclemys terrapin rhizophararum Anderson, 1985 (ex errore)
Malaclemys terrapin tequesta
  • Malaclemys terrapin tequesta Schwartz, 1955

The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) or simply terrapin, is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal tidal marshes of the eastern and southern United States, and 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 Florida Keys and as far north as Cape Cod.

The name "terrapin" is derived from the Algonquian word torope. It applies to Malaclemys terrapin in both British English and American English. The name originally was used by early European settlers in North America to describe these brackish-water turtles that inhabited neither freshwater habitats nor the sea. It retains this primary meaning in American English. In British English, however, other semi-aquatic turtle species, such as the red-eared slider, might be called a terrapin.

The common name refers to the diamond pattern on top of its shell (carapace), but the overall pattern and coloration vary greatly. The shell is usually wider at the back than in the front, and from above its appears wedge-shaped. The shell coloring can vary from brown to grey, and its body color can be grey, brown, yellow, or white. All have a unique pattern of wiggly, black markings or spots on their body and head. The diamondback terrapin has large webbed feet. The species is sexually dimorphic in that the males grow to approximately 13 cm (5.1 in), while the females grow to an average of around 19 cm (7.5 in), though they are capable of growing larger. The largest female on record was just over 23 cm (9.1 in) in length. Specimens from regions that are consistently warmer in temperature tend to be larger than those from cooler, more northern areas. Male diamondback terrapins weigh 300 g (11 oz) on average, while females weigh around 500 g (18 oz). The largest females can weigh up to 1,000 g (35 oz).


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