Juv. Female Concentric For Sale

[Chun-Ming Chew]

FYI: I have a 3.5in. juvenile female concentric carolinan for sale. She was hatched last year and her mother was part of Chuck Oldham’s breeding stock. She is a flawless little gem and raised in freshwater but has an appetite for terrapin feet. Best kept alone for now or with other turtle types (She doesn’t bother my loggerhead musks). She is $150 plus shipping – a bargain considering Turtle Town sells their hatchlings for $100. Pictures of her under the Photos section: Chun’s Terrapins/For Sale Email me offpost with any questions! Thanks! -Chun

[Jason Williamson]

(I am sure that this question has been asked before) What is the difference in a Chesapeake Bay Northern and a Concentric Carolinan other than the location? Chun, great looking terrapin! Thanks, JasonChun-Ming Chew

[Chun-Ming Chew]

Well if that isn’t a loaded question!? Here’s a little bit of history for the newbies among us. Way back when the group started, concentric carolinans and chesapeake northerns were still erroneusly referred to as ornates. The group came up with a consensus to begin referring to these morphs as concentric carolinans and chesapeake northerns since their patterning is so unique and yet not definitive of any one subspecies. Well the online turtle dealers soon picked up on the concentric term and adopted the moniker for both. No one seems to know what these morphs really are but I suspect they are hybrids. Certain populations of mangrove terrapins are known to possess the unique zebra markings on their rumps and teardrop markings on the face, so it is possible these morphs originated with them. All we know is that the majority of the breeding stock populating the pet trade hail from South Carolina. In addition, wild- caught northerns have also been observed with the concentric markings. To finally answer your question, here is my take on the differences between the chesapeake northern and concentric carolinan: 1) Geography (obvious) 2) Slimmer head on the chesapeakes – typical of M.t.terrapin. 3) Darker carapace on chesapeakes, usually brown or olive compared to the yellow or light orange of concentric carolinans. This can be slightly misleading at times since an individuals’ carapace color can vary at different times of their lives. 4) Chesapeakes may lack the webbing pattern found on their heads in the area between the eyes and snout. 5) Skin color on concentric carolinans is invariably white whereas chesapeakes will vary from white to purplish gray. Terrapin Breeder has some decent pictures of the two morphs: http://www.geocities.com/dterrapin/breeder We may have added some confusion but at least the whole exercise rightfully relegated the term ornate to just M.t. macrospilota! Cheers. -Chun — In diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com, Jason Williamson

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