About Friends of County Parks
The Friends of the County Parks, established in 1988, is a group of concerned citizens joining together to promote financial and community support to the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department. They develop public awareness of recreation as an important part of day-to-day life.
Funds provided by The Friends of the County Parks are used as a supplement to the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department budget and does not replace allocated tax dollars. These additional funds helps maintain, improve, and enhance services provided by the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. The Friends of the County Parks enjoys a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit exemption status.
Description: A small to medium-sized turtle (females to 8.5 in. = 216 mm
shell length, males to 5.5 in. = 140 mm) of tidal and salt marsh habitats but
otherwise resembling freshwater turtles. Each large scale on back bears
concentric grooves and rings or dark and light markings, often with center
area slightly raised and of different color than background. Colors vary
among regions of Florida, which includes ranges of five races. Head, neck
and legs often light with many dark dots, but sometimes streaks. Upper
shell (carapace) with low, central keel, sometimes knobbed. Horny
covering of beak usually broad and light, giving appearance of a smile.
Hatchlings typically with large bulbous knobs down center of back.
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN
Malaclemys terrapin
Order:
Testudines
Family:
Emydidae
FNAI Ranks:
G4/S4
U.S. Status:
None
FL Status:
None
State possession limit of two turtles; illegal to buy or sell
species or its parts.
Field Guide to the Rare Animals of Florida Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2001
Atlantic coast© Carla VanNessGulf coast© Barry Mansellhatchling
© Dale R. Jackson
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN Malaclemys terrapin
Similar Species: Closely related map turtles (Graptemys: see accounts for
G. barbouri and G. ernsti), which are restricted to panhandle rivers,
tend to have high mid-central ridge on back (reduced in large females),
olive-colored shells, and yellow streaks and blotches rather than dark dots
on skin. River cooters (see Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis account)
may enter estuarine waters but have yellow stripes on head and neck, and
no knobs on back.
Habitat: Salt and brackish waters only, occurring in marshes, tidal creeks,
bays, and lagoons. Often associated with mangroves in southern Florida.
Sandy beaches and berms used for nesting; may bask on oyster bars at low
tide.
Seasonal Occurrence: Active mostly in daytime March - December,
potentially year-round in south. Large breeding aggregations have been
observed in Brevard County in March and April. Nesting typically April -
June, with hatchlings usually emerging in late summer and fall.
Florida Distribution: Entire coastline of Florida, including Keys. Florida
comprises more than a third of species’ range. Of the five subspecies in
Florida, three occur nowhere else. Carolina diamondback terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin centrata): northeastern Florida; Florida east coast
terrapin (M. t. tequesta): Atlantic coast south of St. Johns River; mangrove
terrapin (M. t. rhizophorarum): Lower Keys; ornate diamondback terrapin
(M. t. macrospilota): Florida Bay and Gulf coast, including most of
panhandle; Mississippi diamondback terrapin (M. t. pileata): western
panhandle.
Range-wide Distribution: The entire Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape
Cod, Massachusetts, to southeastern Texas.
Conservation Status: Extensively harvested for food in the past; less so
today. Major threats are habitat degradation (loss of salt marsh, pollution,
sea walls) and incidental drowning in crab traps, which are dispersed by the
millions throughout range. Several national wildlife refuges and state
aquatic preserves presumably protect some Florida populations.
Protection and Management: Protect coastal waters and estuaries from
degradation, development, and pollution. It is imperative to minimize
incidental take of terrapins in crab traps, either by restricting use or by
incorporating inexpensive devices that prevent terrapins from entering.
Statewide population surveys and monitoring are sorely needed.
Selected References: Ashton and Ashton 1991, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999, Conant
and Collins 1991, Ernst et al. 1994, Moler (ed.) 1992, Roosenburg et al. 2000.
Field Guide to the Rare Animals of Florida Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2001
shell length, males to 5.5 in. = 140 mm) of tidal and salt marsh habitats but
otherwise resembling freshwater turtles. Each large scale on back bears
concentric grooves and rings or dark and light markings, often with center
area slightly raised and of different color than background. Colors vary
among regions of Florida, which includes ranges of five races. Head, neck
and legs often light with many dark dots, but sometimes streaks. Upper
shell (carapace) with low, central keel, sometimes knobbed. Horny
covering of beak usually broad and light, giving appearance of a smile.
Hatchlings typically with large bulbous knobs down center of back.
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN
Malaclemys terrapin
Order:
Testudines
Family:
Emydidae
FNAI Ranks:
G4/S4
U.S. Status:
None
FL Status:
None
State possession limit of two turtles; illegal to buy or sell
species or its parts.
Field Guide to the Rare Animals of Florida Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2001
Atlantic coast© Carla VanNessGulf coast© Barry Mansellhatchling
© Dale R. Jackson
DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN Malaclemys terrapin
Similar Species: Closely related map turtles (Graptemys: see accounts for
G. barbouri and G. ernsti), which are restricted to panhandle rivers,
tend to have high mid-central ridge on back (reduced in large females),
olive-colored shells, and yellow streaks and blotches rather than dark dots
on skin. River cooters (see Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis account)
may enter estuarine waters but have yellow stripes on head and neck, and
no knobs on back.
Habitat: Salt and brackish waters only, occurring in marshes, tidal creeks,
bays, and lagoons. Often associated with mangroves in southern Florida.
Sandy beaches and berms used for nesting; may bask on oyster bars at low
tide.
Seasonal Occurrence: Active mostly in daytime March - December,
potentially year-round in south. Large breeding aggregations have been
observed in Brevard County in March and April. Nesting typically April -
June, with hatchlings usually emerging in late summer and fall.
Florida Distribution: Entire coastline of Florida, including Keys. Florida
comprises more than a third of species’ range. Of the five subspecies in
Florida, three occur nowhere else. Carolina diamondback terrapin
(Malaclemys terrapin centrata): northeastern Florida; Florida east coast
terrapin (M. t. tequesta): Atlantic coast south of St. Johns River; mangrove
terrapin (M. t. rhizophorarum): Lower Keys; ornate diamondback terrapin
(M. t. macrospilota): Florida Bay and Gulf coast, including most of
panhandle; Mississippi diamondback terrapin (M. t. pileata): western
panhandle.
Range-wide Distribution: The entire Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Cape
Cod, Massachusetts, to southeastern Texas.
Conservation Status: Extensively harvested for food in the past; less so
today. Major threats are habitat degradation (loss of salt marsh, pollution,
sea walls) and incidental drowning in crab traps, which are dispersed by the
millions throughout range. Several national wildlife refuges and state
aquatic preserves presumably protect some Florida populations.
Protection and Management: Protect coastal waters and estuaries from
degradation, development, and pollution. It is imperative to minimize
incidental take of terrapins in crab traps, either by restricting use or by
incorporating inexpensive devices that prevent terrapins from entering.
Statewide population surveys and monitoring are sorely needed.
Selected References: Ashton and Ashton 1991, Bartlett and Bartlett 1999, Conant
and Collins 1991, Ernst et al. 1994, Moler (ed.) 1992, Roosenburg et al. 2000.
Field Guide to the Rare Animals of Florida Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 2001