The Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a small North American reptile featured in the Aquatic Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description
General[]
Population in the Wild: Unknown
The Northern diamondback 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 characterized by its distinctive shell pattern of interlocking "diamonds" that tend to have concentric light and dark rings within them. However, pattern and coloration does vary within the species. The average shell length of males is 5.2in, whereas the average shell length of females is 6.8in.
The Northern diamondback terrapin is a vulnerable species. Their populations went through a long period of overhunting which brought them to the brink of extinction by the early 1900s. Increased urban development in the areas in which they live and lay their eggs also negatively affected their numbers. There is now protective legislation for the species in many of the states they inhabit and their population has somewhat recovered, although continues to be at risk. A current risk for diamondback terrapins are commercial crab traps, in which terrapins often get caught and drown.
Social[]
Diamondback terrapins will tolerate other nearby terrapins as long as there is plenty of space, and live together and occasionally interact, although most social behavior occurs during the mating season.
Reproduction[]
During the breeding season (early spring), the females will swim conspicuously on top of the water waiting for males to approach. When a male approaches, the female may let him mate immediately, or she may swim away. Males may chase females for long distances in an attempt to mate. Females will store sperm from multiple males for many years and egg fertilization is delayed, so each batch of eggs is likely to come from several fathers.
When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she will climb ashore onto a sandy beach, dig a nest 4in-8in in the sand and lay her eggs there. She then leaves. The eggs hatch in late summer or early autumn and the hatchlings are around 2in in size when they hatch. Males reach sexual maturity when they grow 4.4in in size, which takes 2-3 years. Females reach sexual maturity when they grow 6.84in in size, which takes 8-10 years.
Animal Care
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Trivia
Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- The Diamondback terrapin is sexually dimorphic; the males are significantly smaller than the females
- 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
- Diamondback terrapins were considered a delicacy and almost hunted to extinction for their meat in the 19th Century
- The concentric rings within the plates of the Northern diamondback terrapin's shell are growth rings that form as the terrapin gets larger
Other Trivia[]
- The Diamondback Terrapin was the first turtle added post-launch.
- It is also the first exhibit animal to have the aquatic terrarium, and the first to have swimming behaviours.
Gallery
