Diamondback Terrapin
Malaclemys terrapin centrata
The Carolina Diamondback Terrapin is a beautifully patterned turtle with light gray skin marked by dark spots and a shell that often displays a mix of browns, grays, and creams. Found in brackish tidal marshes, estuaries, and creeks along the southeastern coast, including around Topsail Island, this turtle is specially adapted to life in water that's a mix of fresh and salt. Females are much larger than males, with some reaching up to 11 inches long. They feed on crabs, snails, and other small aquatic animals using powerful jaws to crush hard shells. Sadly, their coastal habitat is being threatened by pollution, habitat loss, and getting accidentally caught in crab traps, making protection efforts increasingly important.
Miss Shell’s Story: Miss Shell has been an ambassador at out aquarium for almost 5 years. She was originally rescued by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the family that they rescued her from originally kept her in purely freshwater which caused some disfigurement in her shell and why she looks different from our other terrapin Sarah. Fort Fisher eventually needed the space for some other projects, so she joined our team as an ambassador for her species!