La tartaruga dal dorso di diamante settentrionale è una piccola specie di tartaruga che vive nelle paludi costiere salmastre degli Stati Uniti orientali e meridionali. Il suo carapace presenta un caratteristico motivo a "diamanti" con anelli concentrici chiari e scuri all'interno. I motivi e le colorazioni cambiano in base alla specie. La lunghezza media del carapace dei maschi è di 13 centimetri, mentre le femmine raggiungono i 17.

Latin Name
Malaclemys terrapin terrapin
Slug
diamondback-terrapin
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Conservation Status
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Animal Facts
Diamondback terrapins were considered a delicacy and almost hunted to extinction for their meat in the 19th Century.
The Diamondback terrapin is sexually dimorphic; the males are significantly smaller than the females.
The concentric rings within the plates of the Northern diamondback terrapin’s shell are growth rings that form as the terrapin gets larger.
Diamondback terrapins live in brackish water (areas where freshwater and seawater mix) but require visits to freshwater to avoid dehydration.
Diamondback terrapins have salt glands behind their ear which allow them to excrete excess salt that they accumulate from living in near-marine environments.
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