Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)
Elizabeth Pinnix, Southern Sites Manager, North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve (A program within the NC Division of Coastal Management, in partnership with NOAA)
Diamondback terrapins are North Carolina’s only turtles that live exclusively in estuaries. They can be found ranging from Cape Cod throughout the East Coast down into the Gulf Coast to Texas. Terrapins spend the entirety of their lives in estuarine waters and have unique patterns on their shells and skins that make them a remarkable species to see in the marsh. This keystone species faces many threats, including bycatch and habitat loss, and due to their elusive nature in the saltmarsh ecosystem, they are difficult to study in their natural environment. Elizabeth Pinnix will share the history and ecology of these striking marsh turtles, describe ongoing conservation efforts taking place in NC, and explain how YOU can get involved with community science projects to help scientists better understand population trends in NC.
Join us on YouTube!
Live Virtual Presentation hosted by NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Coordinator of Current Science Programs Chris Smith and the NC Department of Environmental Quality Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs staff.
You can post questions in the YouTube chat or tweet questions to #LunchTimeDiscovery and mention @NorthCarolinaEE.
Brought to you by the NC DEQ Office of Environmental Education and Public Affairs and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.