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A terrapin is a specific species of turtle (Malaclemys terrapin) that lives in brackish water.

Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Usage of the name "terrapin" in British and American English compared 3 Introduction 4 Distribution and Habitat 5 Adaptations to their Environment 6 History as a Delicacy 7 Diet 8 Seasonal Activities 9 Reproduction 10 Threats 11 Conservation and Current Research 12 Appearances in popular culture 13 References 14 External links

[edit] Taxonomy

The diamondback terrapin belongs to the order Testudines along with all other extant turtles. Malaclemys terrapin is the only member of the genus, and is closely related to large genus of North American map turtles, Graptemys. Malaclemys has been divided into seven different subspecies, but these divisions are generally not supported by molecular analyses ^[1][2].

Although sometimes superficially similar to sea turtles in shape, having webbed feet and thinner shells than fully terrestrial tortoises, terrapins do not belong to the sea turtle superfamily Chelonioidea. In British English, the species most commonly referred to as terrapins are members of the family Emydidae including the red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans and the painted turtle Chrysemys picta. Perhaps confusingly, although the genus to which the box turtles belong, Terrapene, sounds similar to the word terrapin, these turtles are not normally called terrapins, but are also in the turtle family Emydidae. Americans only use the term "terrapin" to refer to Malaclemys terrapin, which makes sense considering the meaning of the word.

[edit] Usage of the name "terrapin" in British and American English compared

The name "terrapin" is unambiguously applied to the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, in both British English and American English; the name originally being used by early European settlers in North America to describe these brackish water reptiles that inhabited neither freshwater habitats nor the sea. However, in American English the name is not routinely applied to other semi-aquatic or freshwater turtles, unlike the situation in British English where any such turtle might be called a terrapin.

[edit] Introduction

The diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, is a turtle that inhabits salt marshes and estuaries of the Atlantic coast and Bermuda (Parham et al. 2008). Female terrapins can reach a length of 9 inches (23 cm), while males reach just 6 inches (15 cm). The common name of this turtle is based on the unique color and the upper portion of its shell (carapace) which has raised rings that are similar in appearance to cut diamonds. The genus of this species, Malaclemys, has Greek origins and can be translated to “mollusk eating turtle”. The species name, terrapin, may derive from a Native American word meaning “edible turtle”. While the term “terrapin” is sometimes applied to other species outside North America, Malaclemys is the only turtle correctly called a terrapin. Information on terrapins has been recently reviewed by Brennessel (2006).

[edit] Distribution and Habitat

Diamondback terrapins live in the very narrow strip of coastal habitats on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, from Massachusetts to Texas. In most of their range terrapins live in Spartina marshes that are flooded at high tide, but in Florida they also live in mangrove swamps ^[3]. This turtle can survive in freshwater as well as full strength ocean water but adults prefer intermediate salinities. They have no competition from other turtles, although snapping turtles do occasionally make use of salty marshes^[4]. It is unclear why terrapins do not inhabit the upper reaches of rivers within their range, as in captivity they tolerate fresh water. It is possible they are limited by the distribution of their prey^[5]. Terrapins live quite close to shore, unlike sea turtles, which wander far out to sea. Terrapins tend to live in the same areas for most or all of their lives, and do not make long distance migrations^[6],^[7],^[8].

[edit] Adaptations to their Environment

Terrapins look much like their freshwater relatives, but are well adapted to the near shore marine environment. They have several adaptations that allow them to survive in varying salinities. They can live in full strength salt water for extended periods of time^[9], and their skin is largely impermeable to salt. Terrapins have lachrymal salt glands^[10],^[11], not present in their relatives, which are used primarily when the turtle is dehydrated. They can distinguish between drinking water of different salinities^[12]. Terrapins also exhibit unusual and sophisticated behavior to obtain fresh water, including drinking the freshwater surface layer that can accumulate on top of salt water during rainfall and raising their heads into the air with mouths open to catch falling rain drops^[13],^[14]. Terrapins are strong swimmers. They have strongly webbed hind feet, but not flippers as do sea turtles. Like their relatives (Graptemys), they have strong jaws for crushing shells of prey, such as clams and snails. This is especially true of females, who have larger and more muscular jaws than males^[15].

[edit] History as a Delicacy

Diamondback terrapins were heavily harvested for food in colonial America, and probably before that by native Americans. Terrapins were so abundant and easily obtained that slaves and even the Continental Army ate large numbers of terrapins. Terrapins become a fashionable delicacy and sold for as much as $5 each in 1917^[16]. Huge numbers of terrapins were harvested from marshes and marketed in cities. By the early 1900s populations in the northern part of the range were severely depleted, and the south was greatly reduced as well^[17]. As early as 1902 the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (which later became the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) recognized that terrapin populations were declining and started building large research facilities in South Carolina to investigate methods for captive breeding terrapins for food. People tried (unsuccessfully) to establish them in many other locations, including San Francisco^[18]. In the 1920s, terrapin soup began to lose popularity, probably due to World War I and the prohibition of the liquor commonly used to prepare the dish. Terrapin harvest has continued on a smaller scale and includes an export market (not always legal) even today.

[edit] Diet

Diamondback terrapin diets are not generally well studied, and almost all work on diets has been done in the southeastern part of their range. They eat shrimp, clams, crabs, mussels, and other marine invertebrates^[7], especially periwinkle snails^[19]. At high densities they may eat enough invertebrates to have ecosystem-level effects, partially because periwinkles can themselves overgraze important marsh plants^[20].

[edit] Seasonal Activities

Because nesting is the only terrapin activity that occurs on land, most other aspects of terrapin behavior are poorly known. Limited data suggest that terrapins hibernate in the colder months in most of their range, in the mud of creeks and marshes^[21] . They forage in shallow waters where their invertebrate prey are found. Terrapins bask occasionally, but much less commonly seen than in their relatives.

[edit] Reproduction

Like all reptiles, terrapin fertilization occurs internally. Courtship has been seen in May and June, and is similar to that of the closely related red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta)^[22]. Female terrapins can mate with multiple males and store sperm for years^[23], resulting in some clutches of eggs with more than one father.

Like many turtles, terrapin have temperature dependent sex determination, meaning that the sex of hatchlings is the result of incubation temperature. Females can lay up to three clutches of eggs/year in the wild^[24], and up to five clutches/year in captivity^[25]. It is not known how often they may skip reproduction, so true clutch frequency is unknown.

Females may wander considerable distances on land before nesting. Nests are usually laid in sand dunes or scrub vegetation near the ocean^[26] in June and July, but nesting may start as early as late April in Florida^[27]. Females will quickly abandon a nest attempt if they are disturbed while nesting. Clutch sizes vary latitudinally, with average clutch sizes as low as 5.8/eggs/clutch in southern Florida^[28] to 10.9 in New York^[24]. After covering the nest, terrapins quickly return to the ocean and do not return except to nest again.

The eggs usually hatch in 60–85 days, depending on the temperature and the depth of the nest. Hatchlings usually emerge from the nest in August and September, but may overwinter in the nest after hatching^[29]. Hatchlings sometimes stay on land in the nesting areas in both fall and spring, and they may remain terrestrial for much or all of the winter in some places ^[30],^[27]. Hatchling terrapins are freeze tolerant^[31], which may facilitate overwintering on land. Hatchlings have lower salt tolerance than adults, and Gibbons et al. ^[6] provided strong evidence that one- and two-year old terrapins use different habitats than do old individuals.

Growth rates, age of maturity, and maximum age are not well known for terrapins in the wild, but males reach sexual maturity before females, because of their smaller adult size. In females at least, sexual maturity is size rather than age dependent^[32]. Estimations of age based on counts of growth rings on the shell are untested, so it not clear how to determine the ages of wild terrapins.

[edit] Threats

The major threats to diamondback terrapins are all associated with humans, and probably differ in different parts of their range. People tend to build their cities on ocean coasts near the mouths of large rivers, and in doing so they have destroyed many of the huge marshes terrapin inhabited^[33]. Nationwide, probably >75% of the salt marshes where terrapins lived have been destroyed or altered. Currently, ocean level rise threatens the remainder.

Traps used to catch crabs both commercially and privately have commonly caught and drowned many diamondback terrapins^[6], which can result in male-biased populations and local population declines and even extinctions^[7],^[34]. When these traps are lost or abandoned (= “ghost traps”), they can kill terrapins for many years. Terrapin-excluding devices are available to retrofit crab traps, these reduce the number of terrapins captured while having little or no impact on crab capture rates^[35][36]. In some states (NJ, DE, MD), these devices are required by law.

Nests, hatchlings, and sometimes adults^[37], Burke unpub. data) are commonly eaten by raccoons, foxes, rats^[38],^[24],^[39] and many species of birds, especially crows and gulls^[40],^[27]. Density of these predators are often increased because of their association with humans. Predation rates can be extremely high; predation by raccoons on terrapin nests at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in New York varied from 92-100% each year from 1998-2008^[24], Burke unpubl. data).

Terrapins are killed by cars when nesting females cross roads^[41], and mortality can be high enough to seriously impact populations^[42]. Terrapins are still harvested for food in some states. Terrapins may be affected by pollutants such as metals and organic compounds^[43], but this has not been demonstrated in wild populations.

There is an active casual and professional pet trade in terrapins, and it is unknown how many are removed from the wild for this purpose. Some people breed the species in captivity (e.g.,^[44], and some color variants are considered especially desirable. In Europe, Malaclemys are widely kept as pets as are many closely related species.

[edit] Conservation and Current Research

Diamondback terrapins are decreasing in much of their range. There is limited protection for terrapins on a state-by-state level throughout its range; it is listed as Endangered in Rhode Island and Threatened in Massachusetts. Check with the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group ^[45] for a recent review of state-by-state laws. There is no national protection except through the Lacey Act, and little international protection.

Numerous scientists, conservation organizations, and private individuals are conducting research and working to help terrapins. The Diamondback Terrapin Working Group^[45] is the clearinghouse for research and conservation on diamondback terrapins, and has regular meetings of scientists and conservationists to help terrapins.

[edit] Appearances in popular culture

The Terrapin is the mascot of the University of Maryland; the term is often shortened to "Terp".

The Grateful Dead's 1977 album Terrapin Station features two dancing terrapins on the cover of the album.^[46] The terrapin has become an iconic symbol of The Grateful Dead, and a recognizable emblem among their fans.

In the video game Breath of Fire II, a terrapin is responsible for drying up one village's well and trapping many of the villagers. It is a boss. Un jefe

A song was written by Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd fame about terrapins. The title is Terrapin and it is a love song cast underwater.

In 2000, the British electric music artist Bonobo released the single "Terrapin" on his third cd entitled Animal Magic.

The popular children's show The Wonder Pets features a terrapin as Turtle Tuck, one of the super-pets.

In the animated film The Swan Princess, the character Speed is a terrapin.

Kinder Egg produced a series of small collectible figurines called Teeny Terrapins in the early 90's.

In Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise, the Cherrapin is based on the Terrapin and named after the cherry.

In Sugungga, a traditional Korean story, a terrapin acts as a protagonist.

Ulrich Haarbürste features a well-groomed terrapin named Jetta in many of his Roy Orbison cling-film stories.

The Athens, Georgia based brewery Terrapin Beer Company was established in 1998 by Brian "Spike" Buckowski and John Cochran and uses not only the terrapin namesake but also sports a terrapin on the label of their beers.

[edit] References

1. ^ Hart, K.M. 2005. Population biology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin): defining and reducing threats across their geographic range. Ph.D. Dissertation, Duke University.
2. ^ Hauswaldt, J. S. and T. C. Glen. 2005. Population genetics of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). Molecular Ecology 14:723-732.
3. ^ Hart, K. M., C. C. McIvor. 2008. Demography and Ecology of Mangrove Diamondback Terrapins in a Wilderness Area of Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. Copeia 2008:200-208
4. ^ Kinneary, J. J. 1993. Salinity relations of Chelydra serpentina in a Long Island estuary. Journal of Herpetology 27: 441-446
5. ^ Coker, R. E. 1906. The natural history and cultivation of the diamond-back terrapin with notes of other forms of turtles. North Carolina Geological Survey Bulletin. 14:1-67
6. ^ ^{a b c} Gibbons, J. W., J. E. Lovich, A. D. Tucker, N. N. Fitzsimmons and J. L. Greene. 2001. "Demographic and ecological factors affecting conservation and management of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in South Carolina" Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4:66-74
7. ^ ^{a b c} Tucker, A. D., J. W. Gibbons, and J. L. Greene. 2001. Estimates of adult survival and migration for diamondback terrapins: conservation insight from local extirpation within a metapopulation. Canadian Journal of Zoology 79:2199-2209
8. ^ Hauswaldt, J. S. and T. C. Glen. 2005. Population genetics of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). Molecular Ecology 14:723-732
9. ^ Bentley, P.J., Bretz, W.L., and K. Schmidt-Nielsen. 1967. Osmoregulation in the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin cetrata. Journal of Experimental Biology. 46:161-167
10. ^ Cowan, F.B.M. 1971. The ultrastructure of the lachrymal “salt” gland and the Harderian gland in the euryhaline Malaclemys and some closely related stenohaline emydids. Canadian Journal of Zoology 49:691-687
11. ^ Cowan, F. B. M. 1981. Effects of salt loading in salt gland function in the euryhaline turtle, Malaclemys terrapin. Journal of Comparative Physiology 145:101-108
12. ^ Davenport, J. and E. A. Macedo. 1990. Behavioral osmotic control in the euryhaline diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin: responses to low salinity and rainfall. Journal of Zoology 220:487-496
13. ^ Davenport, J. and E. A. Macedo. 1990. Behavioral osmotic control in the euryhaline diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin: responses to low salinity and rainfall. Journal of Zoology 220:487-496
14. ^ , V.L., Davenport, J., and S. Renous. 1995. Drinking and water expulsion in the diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin. Journal of Zoology (London) 236:483-497
15. ^ Tucker, A. D., N. N. Fitzsimmons, J. W. Gibbons. 1995. Resource partitioning by the estuarine turtle Malaclemys terrapin: trophic, spatial and temporal foraging constraints. Herpetologica 51:167-181
16. ^ Hay, W.P. 1917. Artificial Propagation of the diamondback terrapin. Department of Commerce Bureau of Fisheries Economic Circular No. 5, revised. Pages 3-21
17. ^ Coker, R. E. 1931. The diamondback terrapin in North Carolina. In (ed) H. F. Taylor, Survey of Marine Fisheries of North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC pp. 219-230
18. ^ Brown, P. R. 1971. The story of California diamondbacks. Herpetology 5:37-38
19. ^ Coker, R. E. 1931. The diamondback terrapin in North Carolina. In (ed) H. F. Taylor, Survey of Marine Fisheries of North Carolina. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC pp. 219-230
20. ^ Silliman, B. R. and M. D. Bertness. 2002. A Trophic Cascade Regulates Salt Marsh Primary Production. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 99: 10500-10505
21. ^ Yearicks, E. F., R. C. Wood, W . S. Johnson. 1981. Hibernation of the northern diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin terrapin. Estuaries 4:78-80
22. ^ Seigel, R.A. 1980. Courtship and mating behavior of the diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin tequesta. Journal of Herpetology 14:420-421
23. ^ Barney, R.L. 1922. Further notes on the natural history and artificial propagation of the diamondback terrapin. U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. Economic Circular No. 5, rev. 91-111
24. ^ ^{a b c d} Feinberg, J. A. and R. L. Burke. 2003. Nesting ecology and predation of diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin, at Gateway National Recreation Area, New York. Journal of Herpetology 37:517-526
25. ^ Hildebrand, S. F. 1928. Review of the experiments on artificial culture of the diamond-back terrapin. Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Fisheries 45:25-70
26. ^ Roosenburg, W. M. 1994. Nesting habitat requirements of the diamondback terrapin: a geographic comparison. Wetlands Journal 6:9-12
27. ^ ^{a b c} Butler, J. A., C. Broadhurst, M. Green and Z. Mullin. 2004. Nesting, nest predation and hatchling emergence of the Carolina diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin centrata, in Northeastern Florida. American Midland Naturalist 152:145-155
28. ^ Baldwin, J.D., L.A. Latino, B.K. Mealey, G.M. Parks, and M.R.J. Forstner. 2005. The diamondback terrapin in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys: Insights into Turtle Conservation and Ecology. Chapter 20 In: In: W. E. Meshaka, Jr., and K. J. Babbitt, eds. Amphibians and Reptiles: status and conservation in Florida. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida
29. ^ Baker, P.J., J.P. Costanzo, R. Herlands, R.C. Wood, and R.E. Lee, Jr. 2006. Inoculative freezing promotes winter survival in hatchling diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:116-124
30. ^ Pilter, R. 1985. Malaclemys terrapin terrapin (Northern diamondback terrapin) Behavior. Herpetological Review 16:82
31. ^ Baker, P.J., J.P. Costanzo, R. Herlands, R.C. Wood, and R.E. Lee, Jr. 2006. Inoculative freezing promotes winter survival in hatchling diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:116-124
32. ^ Hildebrand, S. F. 1932. Growth of diamond-back terrapins: size attained, sex ratio and longevity. Zoologica. 9:231-238
33. ^ Ner, S, and R.L. Burke. 2008. Direct and indirect effects of urbanization on Diamondback terrapins of New York City: Distribution and predation of terrapin nests in a human-modified estuary. J.C. Mitchell, R.E. Jung, and B. Bartholomew (eds.). Pp. 107-117 In: Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
34. ^ Dorcas, M. E., J. D. Wilson, J. W. Gibbons. 2007. Crab trapping causes population decline and demographic changes in diamondback terrapins over two decades. Biological Conservation 137:334-340
35. ^ Guillory, V. and P. Prejean. 1998. Effect of a terrapin excluder device on blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, trap catches. Marine Fisheries Review 60:38-40
36. ^ ,Roosenburg, W.M. and J.P. Green. 2000. Impact of a bycatch reduction device on diamondback terrapin and blue crab capture in crab pots. Ecological Applications 10:882-889
37. ^ Seigel, R.A. 1980. Predation by raccoons on diamondback terrapins, Malaclemys terrapin tequesta. Journal of Herpetology 14:87-89
38. ^ Hay, W.P. 1917. Artificial Propagation of the diamondback terrapin. Department of Commerce Bureau of Fisheries Economic Circular No. 5, revised. Pages 3-21
39. ^ Draud, M., M. Bossert, and S. Zimnavoda. 2004. Predation on hatchling and juvenile diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) by the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). Journal of Herpetology 38:467-470
40. ^ Burger, J. 1977. Determinants of hatching success in diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin. American Midland Naturalist 97:444-464
41. ^ Szerlag, S. and S.P. McRobert. 2006. Road occurrence and mortality of the northern diamondback terrapin. Applied Herpetology 3:27-37
42. ^ Avissar, N.G. 2006. Changes in population structure of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) in a previously surveyed creek in southern New Jersey. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5:154-159
43. ^ Holliday, D. K, A. A. Elskus, and W. M. Roosenburg. 2009. Impacts of multiple stressors on growth and metabolic rate of Malaclemys terrapin. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 28:338-345
44. ^ Szymanski, S. 2005. Experience with the raising, keeping, and breeding of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota). Radiata 14:3-12
45. ^ ^{a b} Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
46. ^ The annotated grateful dead discography part b

[edit] External links

Look up terrapin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

One of the turtles in the terrapin family (River Terrapin) Is also called the Tuntung. They are located in South East Asia, and on the island of Sumatta. They are one of the top 25 most endangered turtles in the world today according to the Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF)'s Top 25 most endangered turtles list. They are endangerd due to people overeating them and thier eggs. They inhabit freshwater river areas with rapid currents.