Wednesday, April 16th
April's meeting will focus on how to safely handle and present your reptile to the public. Please feel free to bring your own animal to show off.
Meetings start promptly at 8pm in the Alumni Room of Medaille College.
Annual Banquet
PLEASE NOTE: The annual banquet and recognition dinner will be rescheduled due to conflicts. The new date will likely be a Saturday in May, please contact a board member for more information.
Yellowbelly Slider
(Trachemys s. scripta)
Photo Courtesy of World Chelonia Trust
The diamondback terrapin is the only turtle in North America that lives entirely in brackish water. Diamondback terrapins can be found from southern New England to the Gulf of Mexico. In New York they can mostly be found on Long Island.
Diamondback terrapins are generally about nine inches in length with females being slightly larger than males. The carapace is black and gray that form a diamond-like pattern. The plastron is green to yellow in color.
The word terrapin is derived from an Algonquin word meaning "edible turtles that live in brackish water." In the late 19th century many populations were decimated for the food industry.
Diamondback terrapins feed mostly on mollusks like snails, clams, and mussels.
Females reach sexual maturity in 8 to 13 years while males are sexually mature in only four to seven years. Diamondback terrapins can have a life expectancy of about 40 years.
Mating occurs in the water at night in May or June. Female diamondback terrapins can store sperm for up to four years. Nests are generally dug in sandy rims above the high tide mark. Nests are a six inch deep hole in the sand. After the nest is dug 5 to 22 eggs are laid and will hatch in 60 to 100 days. The eggs can also over-winter in the nest. Eggs and hatchlings are prone to predation by mammals and birds. Road crossings and boat propellers can also prove dangerous to diamondback terrapins as well.
Remember that in many places it is illegal to take wildlife out of the wild without the proper permits from local, state, or federal authorities. Please do not release any captive reptiles or amphibians into the wild as this will disrupt the natural order of our environment. See our amphibian and reptile adoptions page for more information on what to do with unwanted herps.
Help reptiles in need by donating to our Adoption Fund! Your donations will help feed and house reptiles waiting for adoption.