Diamondback Terrapin

With elaborate shell patterns, spotted skin, and mouths that curve upward in an ever-present smile, diamondback terrapins are “homebodies” that rarely move from one tidal area to another, even in the presence of hurricanes. The turtles thrive in the salt water marshes of the eastern and southern United States. These delicate marshes can tolerate minor tidal fluctuations, but would collapse if flooded with rising sea water. With current sea level rises, the terrapin’s marshes are expected to disappear by 2050.

Scientific name: Malaclemys terrapin
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
Endangered Species Act List: Near Threatened
Region: Southeast, Northeast