Diamondback Terrapins

Diamondback Terrapin Subspecies

There are 7 Diamondback Terrapin subspecies that are currently recognized:

  • Northern – Malaclemys terrapin terrapin, range: Wellfleet, MA to Cape Hatteras, NC
  • Carolinan – Malaclemys terrapin centrata, range: Cape Hatteras, NC to northern Florida
  • Florida East Coast – Malaclemys terrapin tequesta, range: northern Florida to upper Keys
  • Mangrove – Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum, range: Florida Keys
  • Ornate – Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota, range: Florida west coast
  • Mississippi – Malaclemys terrapin pileata, range: Florida panhandle to Louisiana 
  • Texas  – Malaclemys terrapin littoralis, range: Louisiana to Texas