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In Search of... Mangrove Diamondback Terrapins. Dade and Monroe County including the Florida Keys
In 2005 I realized I had never seen a wild Diamondback Terrapin in the, at that time, twelve years that I had been in Florida. I haven't spent a lot of time in coastal areas, but I have spent some and always kept an eye out for them. So I set out to find and photograph some for this site. What follows is my search for the Mangrove Diamondbacks. |
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For once a "sure thing" paid off. Through a friend I heard that Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum could be seen at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. This is in the upper Keys and at some point I will attempt to see some terrapins in the lower keys, which are supposed to be the "true" M. t. rhizophorarum. Some consider these Terrapins to be an intergrade between M. t. tequesta and M. t. macrospilota. Thanks to Carl May for bringing this to my attention and for helping me do this. Thanks also to the FKWBC staff; Laura, Bruce, Pam, and Margaret for their assistance. I urge you to visit the center link above and the physical park when you can and support their worthwhile efforts with birds. While there you just might see a terrapin. |
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Double Crested Cormorant at the facility. |
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Shortly after the bird feeding a pair of females showed up and started cruising the pond for scraps. |
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This is the above female. |
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The second female close-up. |
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Most of the terrapins observed this day had the "striped pants". |
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A very green Green Anole. |
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Scattered populations of these Madagascan Giant Day Geckos Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis are found in the Keys. |
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The Turtle Hospital. Definitely worth the visit. I didn't take many pictures there because they have plenty of good ones on their website. Check it and the actual hospital out. |
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A protected Key Deer Odocoileus virginianus clavium in front of a residence on Big Pine Key |
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This studly male Green Iguana Iguana iguana was watching over his harem before the noise of my camera firing up spooked them all to the trees. |
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The ubiquitous Red-eared Slider. A number of these were spotted in the Keys. |
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The Three-stripe Muds found in the Keys are listed as Endangered and are protected. They are much darker than the populations farther north and the carapace has very light to no stripes. They are only found in a few locations in the Lower Keys. |
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They all were very quick to attempt to bite. |
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Unmarked carapace shot. |
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More to come as I still have to check out the Lower Keys Terrapins. Also check out... In Search of Carolina Diamondback Terrapins In Search of East Coast Diamondback Terrapins In Search of Ornate Diamondback Terrapins And these related links |
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