Box Turtle, Diamondback Terrapin and Painted Hatchlings
It’s beginning to feel a lot like September in May here on the Massachusetts SouthCoast as the Turtle Journal team discovers hatchling after hatchling, emerging from their initial winter’s hibernacula. Â The three amigas pictured above include, from left to right: Â Eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), Northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin), and Eastern painted turtle (Chrysemys picta picta). Â These species represent, respectively, woodland edge and backyard habitat, coastal estuaries & salt marshes, and fresh water ponds.
Box Turtle, Diamondback Terrapin and Painted Hatchlings
For identification purposes, we have posted the carapace (top shell) and plastron (bottom shell) of each of these three species. Â From a draw poker perspective, we’ve decided to eschew new cards and play the hand we’ve been dealt: Â three of a (different) kind. Â Clearly a winning hand.