Terrapin
Geoemydidae or Emydidae sp.
Where is it found?
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Saltwater, lagoons, marshes and estuaries
Diet and foraging method
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Picks prey from mud and also takes mouthfuls of water from the sea or river bed and obtains prey items within this sediment. They also dredge the bottom for molluscs and insect larvae.
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Key adaptations
Terrapins have large, webbed feet which are good for swimming, with claws which help them climb out of the water. Their shell protects them from predators, and they use ridges in their jaws to crush prey with hard shells.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Polyandry
Did you know that...?
Female terrapins are much bigger than males. They have crushing jaws which allow them to eat hard-shelled prey, whereas males generally eat smaller prey such as worms, fish and plants.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Diamantschildkröte 2008-11-02 201" by BS Thurner Hof - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamantschildkr%C3%B6te_2008-11-02_201.JPG#/media/File:Diamantschildkr%C3%B6te_2008-11-02_201.JPG
"Baltimore Aquarium - Malaclemys terrapin" by Jarek Tuszynski / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GDFL. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_Aquarium_-_Malaclemys_terrapin.jpg#/media/File:Baltimore_Aquarium_-_Malaclemys_terrapin.jpg
"Diamondback Terrapin 12" by Ltshears - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamondback_Terrapin_12.jpg#/media/File:Diamondback_Terrapin_12.jpg
"Malaclemys terrapinHolbrookV1P12A" by Holbrook, John Edwards, 1794-1871 (English Wikipedia) - North American herpetology; or, A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States. , modified from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malaclemys_terrapinHolbrookV1P12A.jpg#/media/File:Malaclemys_terrapinHolbrookV1P12A.jpg
"Emys concentrica Bell" by James de Carle Sowerby (1787–1871) painting, Edward Lear (1812-1888) lithograph - Rare Books Room. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emys_concentrica_Bell.jpg#/media/File:Emys_concentrica_Bell.jpg
"Diamantschildkröte 2008-11-02 201" by BS Thurner Hof - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamantschildkr%C3%B6te_2008-11-02_201.JPG#/media/File:Diamantschildkr%C3%B6te_2008-11-02_201.JPG
"Baltimore Aquarium - Malaclemys terrapin" by Jarek Tuszynski / CC-BY-SA-3.0 & GDFL. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baltimore_Aquarium_-_Malaclemys_terrapin.jpg#/media/File:Baltimore_Aquarium_-_Malaclemys_terrapin.jpg
"Diamondback Terrapin 12" by Ltshears - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diamondback_Terrapin_12.jpg#/media/File:Diamondback_Terrapin_12.jpg
"Malaclemys terrapinHolbrookV1P12A" by Holbrook, John Edwards, 1794-1871 (English Wikipedia) - North American herpetology; or, A description of the reptiles inhabiting the United States. , modified from Biodiversity Heritage Library. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malaclemys_terrapinHolbrookV1P12A.jpg#/media/File:Malaclemys_terrapinHolbrookV1P12A.jpg
"Emys concentrica Bell" by James de Carle Sowerby (1787–1871) painting, Edward Lear (1812-1888) lithograph - Rare Books Room. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emys_concentrica_Bell.jpg#/media/File:Emys_concentrica_Bell.jpg