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Fall
2007
Cheer for the Turtle
Courtesy of Mike Lathroum, Maryland Natural Resources Police
Anyone who is a fan of the University of Maryland Terrapins, Terps
for short,
will be familiar with their current slogan“Fear the Turtle”.
Truth be known, until
recently, the real life version of this
familiar college mascot and Maryland's
state reptile has had much to fear.
The diamondback terrapin,
Malaclemmys terrapin, which includes
several subspecies, is the only native
North American turtle that has adapted
to living solely in the brackish waters of
our salt marshes and bays along the east
coast of the United States and the Gulf of
Mexico, from Massachusetts to Texas.
Terrapins exhibit a wide range of
color variations from black to spotted
patterns, typically on a light gray
background. They are characterized by
concentric layers on the carapace (top
portion of the turtles's shell) giving them
a diamond appearance, thus the common
name. They are powerful swimmers
with well developed, webbed hind legs.
Terrapins are sexually dimorphic with
the females getting much larger than the
males.
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