Sue Wieber Nourse Holds a Handful of Terrapins
Friday brought a sunny interlude, a southerly breeze and mid-60 temperatures to Marion. Sue Wieber Nourse and Don Lewis packed kayaks, paddles and nets, and headed to Head of Sippican Harbor to check activity in the mating aggregation. Brisk winds kept turtle action to a minimum with only a few snorkeling heads and two basking turtles perched on rocks.
Four Diamondback Terrapins from Sippican Harbor
Don spotted a pair of diamondback terrapins near the south bank.  A large female snorkeled across the surface while a male bobbed behind her. Don thrust paddle into the water and powerd his kayak on an intersecting course. The female dove for the oozy bottom and the male followed intently, focused exclusively on the object of his affection. Don swooshed his long pole net in front of the female, and in a single stroke scooped the adorable couple into the kayak.
Adorable Couple: 340 Female Followed by 304 Male
This adorable couple, Female #340 and Male #304, illustrates the gender dimorphism of the diamondback terrapin species. Typical adult females are twice the linear size and more than four times the mass of adult males. Both turtles had previously been captured and marked by the Turtle Journal team in Sippican Harbor.
Female Diamondback Terrapin #340 (Sippican Harbor)
Female #340 is quite a feisty lady. Sue captured and marked her last April 17th in Head of Harbor. Since last year, she has grown .25 centimeters in length and width, and added 9 grams to her healthy weight.Â
Male Diamondback Terrapin #304 (Sippican Harbor)
Handsome Male #304 was first captured and marked by Don on July 30th, 2006. In the last seven years, he has grown nearly 1.5 centimeters in linear dimensions and gained 80 grams weight. As you can see above, he sports a stylish “mustache.”
Female Prepubescent Female #37 (Sippican Harbor)
Juvenile Terrapin #37 is a new capture in Head of Sippican Habor. She’s only four years old, measures 10.5 centimeters carapace length and weighs 173 grams. She has passed safely through the long list of lethal challenges that confronts hatchlings and juvenile terrapins, and #37 has a good chance of reaching maturity and nesting in another three or four years.
Female Prepubescent Female #38 (Sippican Harbor)
Sue netted Juvenile #38 in Little Neck Cove across from the Marion Town Landing. This five-year-old prepubescent female measured 11.0 centimeters long and hit the scales at 210 grams. Like #37, she has beat the longest odds against terrapin survival, and with any luck, she will reach maturity and begin nesting in another three years.