Diamondback Terrapin

Description:

My pictures don't do justice to the gorgeous colors and intricate patterns on the shells of these lovely terrapins. They seemed to be used to getting handouts from the restaurant patrons, because five or six of them came out of the reeds and from under the pier when we approached and swam around looking up at us as expectantly as our pet red-eared sliders do back at home!

Habitat:

Diamondback terrapins can be found along the Eastern Coast of the U.S., from Cape Cod (Massachusetts) to Texas. They are most common in salt marshes and shallow bays. They are usually found in brackish water and occasionally travel out into the open ocean, however, they cannot tolerate full-strength salty water for long periods of time, or they may dehydrate.

Notes:

Spotted under the pier at a restaurant in Charleston, SC