Diamondback Terrapin
The diamondback terrapin (or Malaclemys terrapin) is a small species of turtle that lives in the brackish and coastal swamps of the Eastern and Southern United States of America.
It is characterised by its distinctive shell pattern of interlocking ‘diamonds’ that tend to have concentric light and dark rings within them. However, pattern and colouration do vary within the species across subspecies.
The average shell length of males is 13cm with an average weight of 0.32kg, whereas the average shell length of the female is 17cm with a weight of 0.72kg.
Malaclemys terrapin
Exhibit needs
- Exhibit types
- Box, Cylinder, Box large, Cylinder large, Box large angled
- Terrain
- Semi aquatic, Aquatic
- Temperature
- 21–32 °C (variance 5 °C below, 5 °C above)
- Humidity
- 65–80% (variance 5 below, 5 above)
- Food
- Fruit and vegetables
- Litter
- 2–4
- Overpopulation at
- 8 (extreme 16)
- Breeds in
- Spring
Overview
- Scientific name
- Malaclemys terrapin
- Class
- Reptilia
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable
- Enclosure
- Exhibit
- Temperature
- 21 °C – 32 °C
- Humidity
- 65% – 80%
- Lifespan
- 25 yr – 40 yr
- Content
- Base game