Have you ever seen a turtle this tiny?
Eight tiny new turtles now call the National Marine Life Center their temporary home. These diamondback terrapin youngsters hatched too late in the season to survive the cold winter. Weighing a mere 4.1 grams (0.14 ounces), the smallest hatchling is only 25.4 mm (~ 1 inch) in length.
Diamondback terrapin hatchling.
Diamondback terrapins live in salt marshes, mud flats, estuaries, and other nearshore habitats. For years, people harvested them for food, although this is no longer legal in Massachusetts. Currently listed as “threatened”, they are impacted by habitat loss both of coastline and upland nesting habitat. They are also frequently hit by vehicles as they cross roads to reach their nesting areas. Additionally, they can suffer from pollution, environmental toxins, and predation from natural and domesticated predators.
On the scale.
Researchers Don “the Turtle Guy” Lewis and Sue Nourse of Cape Cod Consultants study the turtles in the wild and, working with state officials, bring into temporary captivity those hatchlings unlikely to survive the winter on their own. Veterinarian Michael Ryer, DVM, MS examines the hatchlings and places them in temporary homes. The National Marine Life Center is pleased to partner with these individuals in saving diamondback terrapins and returning them to the wild!
Measuring the "straight carapace length" with digital calipers.
We are looking for volunteers ages 14 and up to help with the diamondbacks and cooter hatchlings. To volunteer, contact Joanne Nicholson at jnicholson@nmlc.org or 508-743-9888 x302.
Dr. Williams uses a magnifying lens to examine the tiny hatchling.
3 Comments
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
- Have you ever seen a turtle this tiny? | Scuba Diver Girls Conservation - [...] Kathy Zagzebski, nmlc.org – Eight tiny new turtles now call the National Marine Life Center their temporary home. [...]
Leave a Comment
Support the National Marine Life Center!
The National Marine Life Center is an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) marine animal hospital and science and education center dedicated to rehabilitating for release stranded sea turtles, seals, dolphins, porpoises, and small whales, and to advancing scientific knowledge and education in marine wildlife health and conservation.
i can`t wait to go to the center again!
Thanks for your comment, Haley! Kudos to you and your mom for your turtle rescue work. It’s great that you are already working with animals. Even though they’re not marine animals, any experience is valuable. Keep working with animals, keep visiting the coast, volunteer where ever you can with organizations that interest you, read everything you can about the ocean and marine wildlife. Most of all keep doing what you’re already doing!
The Society for Marine Mammalogy and SeaGrant prepared a great document entitled “Strategies for Pursing a Career in Marine Mammal Science.” Here’s the link:
http://dolphin1.net/network/dolphinsong/strategies.htm
I hope you will visit the National Marine Life Center one day soon!
Best,
Kathy
I wish I lived close enough to be a volunteer at the marine hospital. I live in central Oregon…..high desert. We go to the Oregon coast when we can and I want to be a marine biologist someday. I’m 13. My mom does turtle and tortoise rescue and we currently have 11 box turtles and tortoises. We also live on a farm and have lots of other animals. Someday I hope to visit your facility. Keep up the great work!