Help the Environmental Institute of Houston continue to research and protect the Texas Diamondback Terrapin by adopting a terrapin!
A donation of $25 will help fund student research on terrapin in Texas. By adopting a terrapin you will get to choose its name, and you will receive a certificate with a picture of your terrapin. The certificate will include information about your terrapin such as: where it was released, its weight, size, etc.
Complete the Terrapin Adoption Form (click on the link below) and return to the address on the form. You will receive your certificate in the mail.
The Environmental Institute of Houston (EIH) is researching Diamondback Terrapins, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Houston Zoo.
If you have sighted one of these turtles, please call our main office at 281-283-3950 or email eih@uhcl.edu with the following information:
Date and time
Specific location (GPS coordinates if available)
Any pictures you may have taken
Your name and contact information
Please do not pick up or disturb any of the Terrapins you may see. Thank you!
Galveston Bay marsh
Plum Tree Island National Refuge
About the project
The diamondback terrapin is the only turtle species to live exclusively in brackish water. Due to their limited distribution and unique life history, the Texas subspecies (Malaclemys terrapin littoralis) may be in danger of local extinction. Various sources of mortality have been identified including habitat loss, crab trap bycatch, power plant intakes, vehicular impacts and boating impacts. Little information has been gathered on the numbers or health of local Texas populations. The exact impact of natural occurrences, such as Hurricane Ike, which struck Galveston Island in September 2008, is unknown. This research will build upon previous research conducted by EIH on the population of the Texas diamondback terrapin by expanding the scope of the study to adjacent areas within Galveston Bay and adjacent sites to gather additional population and demographic data on these terrapin.
Texas diamondback terrapin research is currently taking place in marsh areas of Galveston bay. A short boat ride takes field researchers to islands and adjacent wetland areas. Surveys are conducted to monitor terrapin and associated habitat.
Diamondback terrapin
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Diamondback Terrapin
News & Announcements
Have you seen a terrapin?
We are always looking to find new terrapin populations along the Texas coast. If you think that you have spotted a terrapin, please let us know!
