Illustration of diamondback terrapin
- diamondback terrapin
diamondback terrapin
noun
: any of several terrapins (genus Malaclemys) formerly widely distributed in salt marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts but now much restricted
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In 2014, 11 baby diamondback terrapin turtles were found inside a FedEx package at the Calgary International Airport. 
Longreads, 17 Nov. 2021 The hatchling — a diamondback terrapin born from a nest in West Barnstable — has two heads and six legs, making the reptile, whose species is already threatened, that much rarer. Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, 12 Oct. 2021 The northern diamondback terrapin is a medium-sized turtle that ranges in length from 4 to 5.5 inches in males to 6 to 9 inches in females, according to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Anna Sturla, CNN, 9 May 2021 Not exactly, but hundreds of diamondback terrapin hatchlings have been rescued from subterranean storm drains along the Jersey Shore. Fox News, 8 May 2021 The school’s mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2021 There are possession limits for other species such as box turtles and diamondback terrapins. Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2020 The species taken included: Florida box turtles, Eastern box turtles, striped mud turtles, Florida mud turtles, chicken turtles, Florida softshell turtles, Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtles, spotted turtles and diamondback terrapins. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2019 Last month, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to pay $250,000 after admitting to taking thousands of diamondback terrapins (a type of turtle) from a New Jersey marsh and illegally shipping them in unmarked packages to people who wanted them as pets. National Geographic, 17 Oct. 2019 See More
Longreads, 17 Nov. 2021 The hatchling — a diamondback terrapin born from a nest in West Barnstable — has two heads and six legs, making the reptile, whose species is already threatened, that much rarer. Ashley Boucher, PEOPLE.com, 12 Oct. 2021 The northern diamondback terrapin is a medium-sized turtle that ranges in length from 4 to 5.5 inches in males to 6 to 9 inches in females, according to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. Anna Sturla, CNN, 9 May 2021 Not exactly, but hundreds of diamondback terrapin hatchlings have been rescued from subterranean storm drains along the Jersey Shore. Fox News, 8 May 2021 The school’s mascot is a diamondback terrapin named Testudo. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2021 There are possession limits for other species such as box turtles and diamondback terrapins. Kimberly Miller, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2020 The species taken included: Florida box turtles, Eastern box turtles, striped mud turtles, Florida mud turtles, chicken turtles, Florida softshell turtles, Gulf Coast spiny softshell turtles, spotted turtles and diamondback terrapins. Fox News, 19 Oct. 2019 Last month, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to pay $250,000 after admitting to taking thousands of diamondback terrapins (a type of turtle) from a New Jersey marsh and illegally shipping them in unmarked packages to people who wanted them as pets. National Geographic, 17 Oct. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1887, in the meaning defined above