A new edition of a classic on a beloved turtle species.
She's the mascot for the University of Maryland's sports teams and her
ancestors were nearly driven to extinction by Victorians who indulged in
turtle soup. But as she buries herself in the mud every night to sleep,
the diamondback terrapin knows none of this. The size of a dinner plate
and named for the beautiful concentric rings on her shell, she can live
at least forty years and is the only turtle in North America who can
live in brackish and salty waters. Several diamondback populations have
been the subjects of ecological studies in recent years, but most of
that information was buried in scientific literature and various state
and federal reports--until this book.
Synthesizing all known research on this remarkable animal, Diamonds in
the Marsh is the first full-scale natural history of the diamondback
terrapin. Focusing on the northern diamondback, Barbara Brennessel
examines its evolution, physiology, adaptations, behavior, growth
patterns, life span, genetic diversity, land use, reproduction, and
early years. She also discusses its relationship to humans, first as an
important food source from colonial times through the nineteenth
century, and more recently as a cultural icon, frequently depicted in
Native American art and design. She concludes with a look at
contemporary hazards to the terrapin and urges continued study of this
marvelous creature. Updated with a new introduction by Brennessel, and
with a foreword by Bob Prescott, former executive director of
Massachusett's Audubon Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, Diamonds of the Marsh
is perfect for those interested in the conservation of a species.
