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Diamond Back Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
Where it was photographed - Spizzle Creek area of Island Beach State Park
Truly an estuarine turtle, you will not find them in fresh water and
you will not find them in salt water. Only in the brackish
waters of the estuary will you see this amazing creature. One
of the most historic organisms of the Barnegat Bay, diamond back
terrapin were a favored food to serve slaves during colonial
times. In 1820, the US Government made a law that said it was
cruel and inhuman to feed slaves and servants on a steady diet of diamond back terrapin and lobster. Around 1870,
French chiefs developed a recipe for turtle soup and a commercial
industry for diamond back terrapin was born. Roughly around
1920, the diamond back terrapin’s population was almost
wiped-out. Subsequently, the commercial catch was made illegal.
Their diet consists mostly of small fish, bivalves and crabs.
Diamondback terrapins have a beak-like mouth used to crush
shells. Female Diamondback Terrapin grow up to 10 inches in
length (measured by the length of their carapace or top
shell). Mature males reach 6 inches. The
female deposits eggs in nests that she digs into undisturbed areas of
beach and marsh within the estuary. The eggs will hatch
within 60 to 120 days after they are deposited. The newly
hatched young terrapin will then crawl to the water for the first time.
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