what is a terrapin turtle

A terrapin turtle is a small species of turtle that lives in fresh or brackish water. They are semi-aquatic, freshwater-living versions of turtles and can be found in waterholes, ponds, or lakes. Terrapins are not a taxonomic unit and may not be closely related. Many belong to the families Geoemydidae and Emydidae. The name "terrapin" comes from torope, a word in an Algonquian language that referred to the species Malaclemys terrapin (the Diamondback terrapin) . Terrapins are smaller than turtles and tortoises and remain relatively small. They tend to swim quite often but also spend their time on land, basking in the sun and occasionally burrowing in the mud. Unlike turtles and tortoises, terrapins remain relatively small, but there are some giant species of terrapin out there, such as the snapping turtle. The distinction between a turtle, tortoise, or terrapin comes from what habitat they are adapted to live in, though the terminology differs slightly in certain countries.