TERRARIA AND AQUA-TERRARIA 



than the carapace. The jaws have strong cutting margins, the lower fit- 

 ting within the upper. The fore-legs are somewhat long, with five digits 

 and long nails, and the hind-legs broad with five digits and four nails. 

 The tail is short and blunt. The color of the carapace is umber-brown 

 with dark spots and patches, and the translucent plastron white marked 

 with waving blood-vessels. The head and neck are striped, and the legs 

 and digits mottled. Length of carapace 12 in., breadth 10 j4 in., eleva- 

 tion 2^ in., and occasionally larger. Found in the Great Lakes and 

 Mississippi Valley and has been introduced into the Delaware River. 

 It is voracious and feeds upon fishes and other animals. 



Chelydra serpentina (Linn.), or Common Snapping Turtle, has a sub- 

 quadrilateral, deeply emarginate and serrated carapace, and an anteriorly 

 rounded posteriorly pointed plastron. The head is very large, broad be- 

 hind, flattened above with a short pointed snout, and strong jaws with 

 sharp cutting edges and both upper and lower hooks. The neck is long, 

 and the legs large, with five digits and strong nails. The tail is very long, 

 thick at the base and tapering to a pointed tip. The color of the carapace 

 is dusky bro-«vn, the plastron yellowish-grey, and the head and limbs 

 dark brown with black spots. Length 25 inches. Found abundantly in 

 streams and ponds everywhere from Maine to Florida. 



Malaclemmys centrata (Latr.), or Diamond-back Terrapin, Salt-marsh 

 Turtle, has a smooth oval, almost entire carapace, sub-oval plastron, and 

 a very large head posteriorly broad with a pointed snout. The jaws are 

 strong, with the upper slightly emarginate and the lower curved in front 

 with a slight hook. The neck is short and thick; the fore-legs moderately 

 long and the hind-legs short, both having short and strong nails. The 

 tail is short, thick at the base, pointed at the tip and has a sharp ridge. 

 The colors of the carapace are variable, generally a dusky brown, some- 

 times greenish or dark olive, rarely black. The plates are usually 

 yellowish-brown, each with concentric dark stripes and lines to form a 

 pattern, the name being derived from these markings. Length of cara- 

 pace 9 inches, plastron 8^^ inches, elevation 3 inches. Found in saltwater 

 and salt and brackish marshes from New York to Texas; once plentifully, 

 now almost exterminated. It is valued as food and is considered a delicacy. 



Pseudemys rubriventris (Lee), or Red-bellied Terrapin, has an elon- 

 gated oval, smooth carapace, an oblong plastron, and a moderate sized 

 head, enlarged posteriorly with a slightly pointed snout. The jaws are 

 strong, with the upper cutting edge so deeply emarginated as to appear to 

 have two teeth, the lower serrated at the sides with three emarginated 

 processes like teeth in front, the central a hook. The fore-legs are rather 

 long, the hind-legs shorter, both having strong digits with short, slightly 



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