terrapin (tĕr`əpĭn), name for several edible turtles turtle, a reptile of the order Chelonia, with strong, beaked, toothless jaws and, usually, an armorlike shell. The shell normally consists of bony plates overlaid with horny shields.
..... Click the link for more information. of fresh or brackish water.
Any omnivorous aquatic turtle of the family Emydidae, especially the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin). The diamondback inhabits salt marshes and coasts from New England to the Gulf of Mexico. It has raised diamond-shaped patterns on its brownish or black upper shell. The female attains a shell length of about 9 in. (23 cm); the male grows to about 6 in. (14 cm). The eight species of the turtle genus Pseudemys (or Chrysemys) are sometimes referred to as terrapins. They inhabit freshwaters from the northeastern U.S. to Argentina. The female's shell is 6–16 in. (15–40 cm) long. Infant red-eared turtles (P. scripta elegans) are sold in pet shops.
terrapin
terrapin [′ter·ə·pən]
..... Click the link for more information. of fresh or brackish water.
terrapin
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Red-eared turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans).
(credit: (Top) Leonard Lee Rue III from The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers; (bottom) Leonard Lee Rue III)
terrapin
any of various web-footed chelonian reptiles that live on land and in fresh water and feed on small aquatic animals: family Emydidae
terrapin [′ter·ə·pən]
(vertebrate zoology)
Any of several North American tortoises in the family Testudinidae, especially the diamondback terrapin.
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