Chun-Ming Chew
— In diamondbackterrapins@y…, coyote4032@a… wrote: I definitely agree that the adjective “ornate” can be applied to all diamondbacks in that they are beautiful creatures. However, the discussion has not been about which specimens deserve that adjective applied to it but rather what are the proper common names for the 3 different subspecies that are represented in the pet trade by that name. It’s not about who’s turtle is the ornatest or whether or not our dbts deserve the description “ornate.” What matters here is simply the proper scientific representation of the species. Since breeders/retailers seldom include subspecies info, collectors are dependent upon the common names used to identify which subspecies of dbt are being offered. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous internet merchants love to jack up the value of their animals by inserting attractive adjectives to them: i.e. ornate, hypo, screamer, etc. I’m afraid this is sometimes the case with dbts. There are different subspecies of sliders but a breeder that sells yellow-bellies (Trachemys scripta scripta) as red-ears (Trachemys scripta elegans) would be laughed at. Well, it’s the exact same scenario when someone advertises a northern (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) as an ornate (Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota). The Bear in California (Grrrrrr…..)