Please take a few minutes of your time to fill out an on-line survey about the current and past status and range of the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). If you have ever seen terrapins in the wild and/or have experience in salt marshes of the eastern United States, you have useful information. whether or not you fill out the survey, please spread news about it far and wide to any one else who might be able to fill it out. the survey can be found at www.people.hofstra.edu/terrapin.
The diamondback terrapin inhabits brackish and salt marshes and bays throughout its range. In most of their range, terrapins are unlikely to be confused with any other turtle because they are the turtle that lives in the salt marshes. Historically the diamondback terrapin has been reported as far north as Cape Cod, MA and as far south as Corpus Christi, TX. They are most commonly seen basking or crossing roads to nest. Field observations are necessary in order to determine the diamondback terrapins' past and current distribution. Along with distribution we would like to know the status of diamondback terrapins throughout their range, whether the populations are stable, increasing or decreasing. Your help is requested for providing information on diamondback terrapins that you may or may not have seen. Dr. Russell Burke Department of Biology 114 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549 voice: (516) 463-5521 fax: 516-463-5112 http://www.people.hofstra.edu/faculty/russell_l_burke/
