Diamondback terrapins are the only species of turtle in the US that live exclusively in brackish water, where freshwater and saltwater mix. They are found in estuaries from Massachusetts to Texas. Their name is derived from the pattern of concentric rings on their carapace (top shell) and their skin patterns can vary from dark to light blue-gray with contrasting dark spots and stripes. Terrapins are sexually dimorphic, meaning the adult males and females are different sizes; males only grow to about 6 inches long, while females can be 9 inches or more.

Diamondback terrapins have faced several threats historically including overharvesting for turtle soup and habitat depletion. Currently the main threats to terrapins are bycatch in crab pots, loss of nesting habitat due to shoreline development, illegal pet trade, and road mortality. You can help diamondback terrapins by using bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on crab pots and watching out for turtles crossing the road when driving along coastal roads.

Each spring in North Carolina, we conduct the Terrapin Tally; a project that uses community scientists, kayaks, and smartphones to collect observations of terrapins along our coast. If you are interested in participating in the Terrapin Tally, please let us know!