So recently, out of my interest in rare species of turtles, I came across something that caught my eye while I was visiting an aquarium: an Albino Diamondback Terrapin.
It looked like it came straight out of a cartoon book or a video game. Pale yellow shell, redish eyes, almost glowing in the water. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t resist digging deeper into this beautiful reptile. Read this short article to know more about this rarely existing kind of turtle.
What are Diamondback Terrapins?
Let’s first have a look at normal Diamondback Terrapins, otherwise known as Malaclemys Terrapin species. These turtles are already very special. They have attractive natural diamond patterns overall on their shells in different colors, like variations of gray and brown with spotted patterns, which justifies the name.
Diamondback terrapins live in brackish waters, which are a mix of fresh and salty you can find in marshes(a type of wetland) and tidal creeks along the United States East and Gulf coasts. And the males are usually medium-sized sized like 5 to 9 inches, but females are a little bit bigger than that.
Are Albino Diamondback Terrapins born due to a disease?
Honestly, the simple Diamondback Terrapins are stunning, but the Albino version has a unique charm to it. An albino diamondback terrapin is a rare morph species of the Diamondback Turtle. They are born like this if both the parent turtles have the recessive albinism gene.
It causes a genetic mutation in the child, which prevents melanin from being produced (it is a pigment that gives color), which is why they show soft colors – pale yellow shell and red/pink eyes. And no! Being albino is not a disease.
They’re rare because albinism doesn’t usually show up often in the wild. And when it does, the poor turtles usually don’t last long because their bright and shiny look makes them easy targets for predators. That’s why you’ll see most of the albino turtles safe in aquariums.
There are some other albino species of turtles, like albino Red-Eared Sliders, albino Common Snapping Turtles, albino Green Sea Turtles, and albino Chinese Softshell Turtles, among many others, and they have their own unique appearance, but in my opinion, the Diamondback design is much more attractive and special.
Some things to keep in mind if you’re into this kind of Turtles
Albino Diamondback Terrapins are like a Collector’s Dream, but they are not easy to pet because they need very specific care to live in that environment. But if you manage to take care of them, you will see them adapt to fresh water, swim after small fish and crabs, and since it’s a semi-aquatic species, it also comes out of the water to get some sunlight or warmth under a lamp.
In some states, owning or catching terrapins is restricted or illegal. The existence of albino diamondback terrapins says a lot about how wild genetics can get. They’re the living proof that nature always has hidden surprises. And they remind us that terrapins in general, albino or not, need protecting. Roadkills, pollution in their natural environment, and over collection are already reducing their numbers in some places, which might also lead to the extinction of these beautiful reptiles.