Diamondback terrapin turtle (Taken at the Baltimore Aquarium)
hand-colored lithograph from Holbrook's North American Herpetology (1842)
The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) or simply terrapin, is a species of turtle native to the brackish coastal swamps of the eastern and southern United States. It belongs to the monotypic genus, Malaclemys. It has one of the largest ranges of all turtles in North America, stretching as far south as Florida Keys and as far north as Cape Cod.
The common name refers to the diamond pattern on top of its shell (carapace), but the overall pattern and coloration vary greatly. The shell is usually wider at the back than in the front and from above its appears wedge shaped. Its shell coloring can vary from browns to greys, and its body color can be grey, brown, yellow, or white. All have a unique pattern of wiggly, black markings or spots on their body and head.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamondback_terrapin
http://www.factzoo.com/reptiles/difference-between-turtle-tortoise.html
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