{"id":14990,"date":"2014-05-11T11:02:33","date_gmt":"2014-05-11T16:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/?p=14990"},"modified":"2014-05-11T16:11:29","modified_gmt":"2014-05-11T21:11:29","slug":"terrapin-hatchlings-emerge-from-uplands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/?p=14990","title":{"rendered":"Terrapin Hatchlings Emerge from Uplands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Hatchling<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Warmer temperatures, a threat of thunderstorms to trigger barometric changes and gentle showers have enticed tiny Northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin<\/em>) hatchlings to emerge from their over-wintered upland sites. \u00c2\u00a0When born in the late summer and early fall, some number of terrapin hatchlings head upland rather than directly into the nursery salt marsh. \u00c2\u00a0They burrow down in coastal dunes, banks and dirt roadways for the winter. \u00c2\u00a0In May, as weather conditions improve, these vulnerable little critters scramble to the surface.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling Track<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

They employ a mathematical technique sometimes called the Drunkard’s Walk, crawling in random directions with slow curves to accommodate the rolling topology of the dunes, seeking to reach safety in the salt marsh. \u00c2\u00a0The trek is treacherous with legions of predators looking for a tasty snack. \u00c2\u00a0Dehydration is an enormous risk in this desert like terrain. \u00c2\u00a0In the track pictured above, the hatchling is traveling from bottom to top. \u00c2\u00a0You can easily detect the tail drag that bisects the track. \u00c2\u00a0We discovered the hatchling track as we patrolled coastal dunes about a quarter mile from the marsh.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling “Hiding” on Dune<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The tracks continued for at least a tenth of a mile before the hatchling took temporary refuge under some sparse dune plants. \u00c2\u00a0As you can see in the image above, the hatchlings followed the old turtle axiom, “If I can’t see you, then you can’t see me.” \u00c2\u00a0Yet, it is truly amazing how these hatchlings blend so completely into the background and disappear among little camouflaging vegetation.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0Becky Wieber Nourse Discovers Terrapin Hatchling<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, eagle-eyed Becky Wieber Nourse spotted the hatchling who had obviously tired of its long, long trek. \u00c2\u00a0A cursory examination indicated that the baby had become quite dehydrated by exertion and weather conditions. \u00c2\u00a0We believe it unlikely that this hatchling would have successfully completed its journey to the nursery salt marsh.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Rufus the Turtle Dog Guards Terrapin Hatchling<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Rufus the Turtle Dog immediately assumed ownership. \u00c2\u00a0She stood guard over the hatchling to ensure its safety as the rest of the team documented the find.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Don Lewis Documents Terrapin Hatchling in Situ<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The team recorded tracks and surrounding habitat. \u00c2\u00a0The specific location was GPS’d and then scientific data on the hatchling itself was derived.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiny Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Like most Cape Cod hatchlings, this specimen’s carapace (top shell) measured almost exactly one inch (2.54 centimeters). \u00c2\u00a0It weighed a mere 5 grams (less than 0.2 ounce), probably indicating a loss of 15% or more of its original body mass likely due to dehydration.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling Carapace (Top Shell)<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/em><\/strong>The carapace (top shell) showed a scutal anomaly with seven vertebral (center) scutes rather than the normal five. \u00c2\u00a0The hatchling also has a split nuchal, the frontmost marginal scute, and a split “90” marginal, the left rearmost marginal scute. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Diamondback Terrapin Hatchling Plastron (Bottom Shell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The plastron (bottom shell) still shows the remnants of a once generous yolk sac, “given” to the hatchling by its mother and which provided nutrients to endure the first fall and winter. \u00c2\u00a0The opening for the yolk sac in the center of the hatchling’s abdominal scutes is beginning to close. \u00c2\u00a0 To compensate for dehydration and to provide this tiny hatchling with better odds of survival, we allowed it to soak in warm fresh water over night before releasing it directly into the nursery salt marsh that it had struggled so valiantly to reach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiny Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Hatchling<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

We’ve now entered the season for over-wintered hatchlings to emerge and meander to the safety of the nursery salt marsh. \u00c2\u00a0As you walk, bike and drive coastal uplands of Southeast Massachusetts, look down and save a baby turtle. \u00c2\u00a0Who knows? \u00c2\u00a0Saving that one turtle may be the tipping point in saving the world … from the turtle’s perspective, at least. \u00c2\u00a0If you need advice or assistance, call the Turtle Journal team at 508-274-5108<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) Hatchling Warmer temperatures, a threat of thunderstorms to trigger barometric changes and gentle showers have enticed tiny Northern diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) hatchlings to emerge from their over-wintered upland sites. \u00c2\u00a0When born in the late summer and early fall, some number of terrapin hatchlings head upland rather than directly into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[402,827,824,23],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14990"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15050,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14990\/revisions\/15050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.turtlejournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}