Diet of the Carolina diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) in Northeastern Florida

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2012

Abstract

We evaluated the diets of 81 Carolina diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) from northeastern Florida by analyzing fecal samples. Female diets were significantly different from male diets (p < 0.01); fecal samples from females contained crabs, marsh periwinkles (Littorina irrorata), and dwarf surf clams (Mulinia lateralis) in that order of occurrence, whereas fecal samples from males had dwarf surf clams and crabs in that order. We suggest that head-size dimorphism is advantageous to females during nesting forays when they experience a shift in prey availability. © 2012 Chelonian Research Foundation.

Publication Title

Chelonian Conservation and Biology

Volume

11

Issue

1

First Page

124

Last Page

128

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.2744/CCB-0910.1

ISSN

10718443

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