How many diamondback terrapins are there

Females may lay several clutches in one breeding season. Eggs hatch in 60 to days. Like most turtle species, temperature determines the gender of the hatchlings: the warmer the nest, the more female terrapins develop.

If hatchlings do not emerge by the onset of cold weather, they may overwinter in the sand and hatch the following spring.

Terrapins can live for 25 years in the wild, but they face many threats including predation, habitat loss, boat propellers and entrapment in crab pots. Diamondback Terrapin Malaclemys terrapin.

Quick Facts Species Native Size Up to 9 inches in length Habitat Lives in tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers, including brackish marshes, beaches and mud flats, and islands.

Diet Feeds mostly on mollusks; will also eat fish, worms, insects and crustaceans Lifespan Up to 25 years Status Threatened. Related Critters Red-bellied Cooter Pseudemys rubriventris. In the late 19th century, , lbs were harvested annually True In the s, the use of terrapins for food dropped in popularity.

This allowed the population to slightly recover and avoid extinction. In , a status review of reptiles in New Jersey recommended that the Northern diamondback terrapin be listed as a species of special concern in New Jersey. However, terrapins are still harvested in New Jersey and the total harvested annually is not known.

Because they are considered a "Game" species subject to harvest, the Special Concern designation was never officially applied to the species and will not be until they are re-classified as a "Non-game" species.

This came after a federal CITES investigation revealed that 3, were harvested from NJ waters in and that many were likely to be harvested illegally.

It was believed that by restricting the harvest to "by hand" with no traps, nets or drags, that the harvest would be minimal in NJ, but with growing demand and markets in Asia it's apparent that they were being exploited. The adminstrative orders were a good first step to protect terrapins but they needed to be removed from the "game" list.

In and legislation was drafted and voted on by the NJ law makers to remove terrapins from the game list. In July Gov. Chris Christie signed the legislation and terrapins are now considered a non-game species with no hunting season. In , another status review recommended a Special Concern status for this species within the state, but no formal rule proposal has been filed to date. Today several major threats still threaten the survival of terrapins in New Jersey.

Habitat loss, mortality from being drowned in crab traps, road mortality, and illegal collection all pose major threats to the health of the population. Hundreds of acres of terrapin habitat has been destroyed or altered by coastal development.

Bulkheads restrict their natural movement and mosquito ditches have altered the tidal flow on our salt marshes. Roads all throughout the coastal area bisect terrapin habitat. Females are drawn to road shoulders because they mimic natural nest sites and in turn many are hit-by-car and killed each year while attempting to nest. High levels of contaminants have been found in the livers of terrapins. It is not clear how exactly they are affected by contaminants.

Old, abandoned "ghost" traps create death traps for juvenile and male terrapins for years. It is unknown how many die from "ghost" traps. Human development has created ideal conditions for increased numbers of raccoons and skunks in coastal areas and increased predation of terrapin nests.

The New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program would like for individuals to report their sightings of terrapins. Record the date, time, location, and condition of the animal and submit the information by submitting a Sighting Report Formor by filling out our " Terrapin Sighting Form.

Biologists map the sighting and the resulting maps allow state, county, municipal, and private agencies to identify important wildlife habitats and protect them in a variety of ways. This information assists in preserving wildlife habitat remaining in New Jersey.

Found throughout estuaries, shallow bays, and tidal creeks, these reptiles prefer brackish water, but also need periodic access to fresh water to avoid dehydration.

Salt glands around their eyes allow them to secrete excess salt from their bloodstream. Each scute has concentric growth rings at the center, which have been often cited— perhaps erroneously —as a way to estimate their age. There are seven recognized subspecies throughout their range, which runs along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts, south to Florida, around the Gulf of Mexico, and down to southern Texas. Terrapins eat mussels, crabs, clams, and snails, but can also eat carrion, insects, worms, plants, and algae.

The female floats on the water, waiting for a male to approach. If she remains still, mating takes place right away, but if she swims away, he may pursue her for long distances. Females often mate with multiple males. Females come ashore to sandy beaches or dunes to lay their eggs in June or July , forming triangular-shaped nests about four to eight inches deep. Northern subspecies tend to be larger and lay more eggs, but overall a clutch could be anywhere between four to around 25 pinkish-white, leathery eggs.

The young hatch between August and September, and are vulnerable to land predators, including foxes and raccoons. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the diamondback terrapin as vulnerable to extinction. A main threat is accidental drowning in commercial blue crab traps.

If the trap is abandoned, the decomposing animal will attract other animals, including other terrapins, creating a vicious cycle of mortality. Terrapin excluder devices can allow the animals to escape the traps, and in some fisheries, these devices are mandatory. Other human causes, such as coastal development, also result in terrapin habitat destruction and pollution.

Females and hatchlings are sometimes killed by vehicles or trapped in storm drains. Sea-level rise due to climate change could also destroy terrapin nesting habitat.