Diamonds in the marsh : a natural history of the diamondback terrapin
219 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm Contents: A decidedly unique creature -- A coast-hugging turtle -- Reproduction : insurance for species survival -- The lost years -- A clear and present danger for the most celebrated of American reptiles -- Learning from the past; peering into the future. Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-214) and index. Full jacket text: The first book-length investigation of a fascinating turtle She’s the mascot for the University of Maryland’s sports teams (their slogan: Fear the Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate, with a lifespan of at least forty years, she is the only turtle in North America who can live in brackish and salty waters. The diamondback terrapin is named for the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus Christi,Texas, with seven subspecies identified along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several diamondback populations have been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of that information was buried in scientific literature and various state and federal reports—until now. Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at contemporary hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued study of this marvelous creature.
Barbara Brennessel
Diamonds in the Marsh
A Natural History
of the Diamondback
Terrapin
The first book-length investigation
of a fascinating turtle
She’s the mascot for the University of Mary-
land’s sports teams (their slogan: Fear the
Turtle) and her ancestors were nearly driven to
extinction by Victorians who indulged in tur-
tle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud
every night to sleep, the diamondback terrapin
knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate,
with a lifespan of at least forty years, she is the
only turtle in North America who can live in
brackish and salty waters.
The diamondback terrapin is named for
the beautiful concentric rings on its shell. Its
habitat ranges from Cape Cod to Corpus
Christi, Texas, with seven subspecies identified
along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Several
diamondback populations have been the sub-
jects of ecological studies in recent years, but
most of that information was buried in scien-
tific literature and various state and federal
reports—until now.
Synthesizing all known research on this
remarkable animal, Diamonds in the Marsh is the
first full-scale natural history of the diamond-
back terrapin. Focusing on the northern dia-
mondback, Barbara Brennessel examines its
evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior,
growth patterns, life span, genetic diversity,
land use, reproduction, and early years. She
also discusses its relationship to humans, first
as an important food source from colonial
times through the nineteenth century, and
more recently as a cultural icon, frequently
depicted in Native American art and design.
She concludes with a look at contemporary
hazards to the terrapin, and urges continued
study of this marvelous creature.
BAR BAR A B R E N N E S S E L
is Professor of Biology at
Wheaton College. Trained as
a biochemist, she is a summer
resident of Wellfleet, Cape
Cod. She shifted her research
interests to the diamondback
terrapin after spending the
summer of researching
the species with the Massa-
chusetts Audubon Society’s
Wellfleet B