Literaturdatenbank
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Ehret, D. J., & Werner, R. E. (2004). Malaclemys terrapin terrapin (northern diamondback turtle). diet. Herpetological Review, 35(3), 265.
Added by: Admin (14 Aug 2008 20:38:45 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article BibTeX citation key: Ehret2004 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Emydidae, Ernährung = nutrition, Habitat = habitat, Malaclemys, Malaclemys terrapin, Nordamerika = North America, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises Creators: Ehret, Werner Collection: Herpetological Review |
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| Abstract |
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Malaclemys terrapin is an inhabitant of salt marshes, tidal creeks, and estuaries ranging from Cape Cod, Massachusetts south to the Florida Keys and as far west as Texas. This species is especially well adapted for crushing mollusk shells, gastropods, and crabs (Littorina, Mytilus, Uca, and Callinectes) (Ernst et al. 1994 Turtles of the United States and Canada, Smithsonian Inst. Press, 578 pp.) but is a generalist that will also eat plant material, fish, and insects. Here we report a possible new prey item for the northern subspecies, Malaclemys t. terrapin, which suggests scavenging tendencies In July 2000, a gravid female Diamondback Terrapin was found on Stone Harbor Boulevard, Stone Harbor, New Jersey (39o03'N, 74o46'W) and was taken to the nearby Wetlands Institute of Stone Harbor, New Jersey. The mortally wounded individual was euthanized and necropsied for parasite analysis (Werner et al. 2002 Bull. New Jersey Acad. Sci. 47:21–24). Upon gross analysis of the large intestine, two live black larder beetle larvae (Dermestidae: Dermestes ater) were discovered. During the 2000 nesting season, 66 mortally wounded females were euthanized and necropsied but this was the only individual that showed evidence of predation on dermestid beetle larvae. Because dermestid beetles feed on carrion, we speculate that these individual larvae were feeding on carrion in the salt marsh at the time of ingestion by the terrapin. It is thus possible that the female Malaclemys had been recently feeding on carrion and ingested the two larvae. The carrion may have been floating on surface waters or perhaps the female was feeding on land before nesting. It is unknown whether or not Malaclemys will feed on land (R. Wood, pers. comm.). It is also unknown how these larvae survived the digestion process. We thank Roger Wood for insight on feeding habits, and Michael Thomas and John Kingsalver for larvae identification.
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