ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Diamondback terrapin threatened by traffickers, new report notes

Want a little speckled turtle? Forget it. They're adorable but endangered.

Nancy CohenbyNancy Cohen
December 22, 2020 - Updated on October 5, 2023
in Animals, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Wildlife trafficking has become such a major problem that conservationists are warning that many species are now at risk of extinction due to it. Not only that, but experts warn that wildlife trafficking increases the risk of “zoonotic” diseases jumping from animals to humans.

The diamondback terrapin. Image credits: Ryan Hagerty.

The year currently winding down wasn’t just a tough one for us, but also for most creatures on Earth, due to increasing threats. You can assume conservationists have their work cut out for 2021, especially given how an ever-increasing number of animals is threatened by extinction (and the threats aren’t always clear-cut).

That said, it is no surprise that the Center for Biological Diversity sounded a Dec. 18 alarm in the form of a news release over the diamondback terrapin and revealed a new report that talks about trafficking.

This terrapin turtle is one of 10 species highlighted by the Center that are falling in numbers and even disappearing from some areas in its habitat. The report from the Endangered Species Coalition notes that “Wildlife trafficking is a lucrative business, raking in an estimated $7 to $23 billion every year.”

Eggs for life

The terrapins have always had their problems — being hit by cars or drowning in crab traps — but trade and trafficking are posing significant threats. Only a small number of eggs hatch and survive to adulthood, so it is important for adult terrapins to live long lives and have the opportunity to lay many eggs, said the report, “Trafficked: 10 Species Threatened by the Wildlife Trade.”

Yes, these small turtles are cute. No, they should not be your home’s trinkets or menu items for foodies.

“Through the mid-1800s into the 20th century, terrapin soup surged in popularity in the United States,” said the ‘Trafficked’ report, “resulting in staggering harvests. While that soup largely disappeared from dinner tables, the terrapin’s population never rebounded.”

The turtles have speckled skin and they get their name from their diamond patterned shells. They are the only turtles in the world living exclusively in semi-salty waters of estuaries. “It is thought to be a keystone species in those ecosystems,” said the Center.

RelatedPosts

The dinosaurs may have been wiped out by a comet fragment, not an asteroid
What doesn’t kill you, makes your life shorter: Baboons with rough childhoods die earlier
The FDA finally approved a condom for anal sex. Here’s why it’s a good thing
How artificial intelligence will augment the typical North American city of 2030

“Terrapins eat small fish and invertebrates with relatively soft shells, like aquatic snails and fiddler crabs,” notes the Trafficked report, adding that Females often have stronger jaws and can eat hard-shelled mollusks. These terrapins play an important ecosystem role as they are top predators in estuaries and are therefore crucial in protecting salt marsh ecosystem functions.

Elise Bennett, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, commented that given its importance, “Wildlife officials should end wild trapping and crack down on traffickers to ensure a bright future for this rare little turtle.”

Trapping for trade

Some poachers snatching up wild terrapins have indeed been apprehended by wildlife officials. Several states have taken action, though, either to protect the terrapins against commercial trade or to put an end to commercial terrapin trapping — but much more is needed to ensure that their numbers don’t continue to dwindle.

The matter is all the more ironic since humans, an intelligent and highly developed species, don’t need terrapins or their eggs for sustenance, so why would a human need to snatch animals from their natural habitats? That is a question for exploring in other essays, but at least the Endangered Species Coalition provides a report overview that sums up where the world stands in terms of threats to species.

Several listed in the report are part of a global pet trade. Examples are the yellow-headed parrot and the Tokay gecko. Then there are the people who seek the animals out for food or medicinal reasons like the scalloped hammerhead shark, pinto abalone, and the pangolin. Thirdly, there are the attention seekers who desire “collectables,” including the Venus flytrap and the rufous hummingbird.

ShareTweetShare
Nancy Cohen

Nancy Cohen

Nancy Cohen is a writer from Cambridge, MA. She holds an MS from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her focus is on business, science, and technology.

Related Posts

News

The Best Archaeopteryx Fossil Ever Found Just Showed It Could Fly

byTibi Puiu
2 hours ago
News

Earliest Reptile Footprints Found By Amateur Paleontologist in 355-Million-Year-Old Rock Push Back the Dawn of Land Animals

byTibi Puiu
4 hours ago
Mind & Brain

A Massive Brain Study Reveals the Hidden Work Your Mind Does While You Read

byTibi Puiu
5 hours ago
Climate

Scientists Create “Bait” to Lure Baby Corals Back to Dying Reefs

byMihai Andrei
6 hours ago

Recent news

The Best Archaeopteryx Fossil Ever Found Just Showed It Could Fly

May 14, 2025

Earliest Reptile Footprints Found By Amateur Paleontologist in 355-Million-Year-Old Rock Push Back the Dawn of Land Animals

May 14, 2025

A Massive Brain Study Reveals the Hidden Work Your Mind Does While You Read

May 14, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.