Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)
Pond and Box Turtles Family (Emydidae)
Common Map Turtle is an aquatic turtle, reaching 11” in length. Its upper shell (carapace) is greenish to olive-brown to dark brown with irregular (map like) yellow-orange patterns (obscure in adults), somewhat flattened, and with a low central keel (with small spines in juveniles), and a serrated back edge. Lower shell (plastron) is unhinged, usually yellowish in color, and patternless or with some map-like patterns along the margins. The body color is usually dark olive to black with narrow green to yellow to orange stripes. It has a yellow oval to triangular spot behind its eye. Adult females can be almost twice the size of males and have enlarged heads, very wide jaws, and shorter tails. Breeding occurs from May to July. Some have two clutches a year in the southern part of its range. They lay 7-13 elliptical eggs. The females consume freshwater clams, crayfish, and large snails, while the smaller males and juveniles consume insects and smaller mollusks. Found from southern Quebec and northwestern Vermont to the Great Lakes south to Tennessee and Alabama, mostly in slow-moving portions of rivers and lakes with mud bottoms, abundant aquatic vegetation, and ample basking places. Will bask on logs usually away from the shore, sometimes with several stacked on top of one another, but will quickly dive into the water upon being disturbed. Also known as northern map turtle. Listed as Endangered in KS and MD; Species of Special Concern in CAN and VT; and Rare in GA.
Copyright Brett Miley
