Graptemys
Encyclopedia
Graptemys is a genus
of turtle
s known commonly as map turtles or sometimes sawback turtles. They are aquatic, freshwater
turtles that are found throughout the eastern half of the United States
and northward into southern Canada
. They superficially resemble many other species of aquatic turtle, including sliders (Trachemys
) and cooters (Pseudemys
). However, they are distinguished by a keel that runs the length of the center of their carapace
; they also typically grow to a smaller size at maturity. They are given the name map turtle due to the map-like markings on the carapace. Average life expectancy of map turtles ranges from 15 to 20 years.
, and Ouachita map turtle
s were bred and hatched out by the thousands back in the 1970s. Some other various turtles were available but as the 4-Inch Law was established map turtles and others slowly decreased in popularity. Today these same common three still hold the title for most common among the pet trade. Other species that are being captive-bred more often include; the Texas map turtle
, Cagle's map turtle
, and the Black-knobbed map turtle
. Some harder-to-find map turtles include the Yellow-blotched map turtle and the subspecies, Delta map turtle
(Graptemys nigrinoda delticola).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s known commonly as map turtles or sometimes sawback turtles. They are aquatic, freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
turtles that are found throughout the eastern half of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and northward into southern Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They superficially resemble many other species of aquatic turtle, including sliders (Trachemys
Trachemys
Trachemys is a genus of turtles belonging to the family Emydidae.-Species:*Trachemys adiutrix - Maranhão slider*Trachemys callirostris - Colombian slider*Trachemys callirostris callirostris - Colombian slider...
) and cooters (Pseudemys
Pseudemys
Pseudemys is a genus of large, herbivorous, freshwater turtles of the eastern United States. They are often referred to as cooters, which stems from kuta, the word for turtle in the Bambara and Malinké languages, brought to America by African slaves....
). However, they are distinguished by a keel that runs the length of the center of their carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
; they also typically grow to a smaller size at maturity. They are given the name map turtle due to the map-like markings on the carapace. Average life expectancy of map turtles ranges from 15 to 20 years.
Pet trade
Throughout the pet trade Mississippi, FalseFalse Map Turtle
The false map turtle or Mississippi map turtle is a species of turtle found in the United States. It is a common pet species.- Identification :...
, and Ouachita map turtle
Ouachita Map Turtle
The Ouachita Map Turtle or Sabine Map Turtle is a species of turtle found in the United States. This species’ carapace features a row of low spines, and is serrated on the rim. The carapace is olive, dark brown, or black in coloration with light yellowish markings with dark borders...
s were bred and hatched out by the thousands back in the 1970s. Some other various turtles were available but as the 4-Inch Law was established map turtles and others slowly decreased in popularity. Today these same common three still hold the title for most common among the pet trade. Other species that are being captive-bred more often include; the Texas map turtle
Texas Map Turtle
The Texas map turtle is a turtle commonly found in central Texas in the Colorado River drainage on the Edwards Plateau. The species is a smaller map turtle with females only attaining a length of 19 cm . The keel on this map turtle is not black and there is a J-shaped head marking...
, Cagle's map turtle
Cagle's Map Turtle
The Cagle's Map Turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family.It is endemic to the Guadalupe, San Antonio and San Marcos Rivers in Texas, USA.-Description:...
, and the Black-knobbed map turtle
Black-knobbed Map Turtle
The black-knobbed map turtle is a small to medium sized aquatic turtle with light gray skin. Some of the most distinguishing characteristics of the black-knobbed map turtle, and the Graptemys genus, are the protruding “spikes” on the turtle’s shell...
. Some harder-to-find map turtles include the Yellow-blotched map turtle and the subspecies, Delta map turtle
Black-knobbed Map Turtle
The black-knobbed map turtle is a small to medium sized aquatic turtle with light gray skin. Some of the most distinguishing characteristics of the black-knobbed map turtle, and the Graptemys genus, are the protruding “spikes” on the turtle’s shell...
(Graptemys nigrinoda delticola).
Species
(Listed alphabetically)- Graptemys barbouri Carr & Marchland, 1942 – Barbour's map turtleBarbour's Map TurtleThe Barbour's Map Turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family.It is endemic to the eastern United States in rivers located in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.-Ownership:...
- Graptemys caglei Haynes & McKnown, 1974 – Cagle's map turtleCagle's Map TurtleThe Cagle's Map Turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family.It is endemic to the Guadalupe, San Antonio and San Marcos Rivers in Texas, USA.-Description:...
- Graptemys ernsti Lovich & McCoy, 1992 – Escambia map turtleEscambia Map TurtleThe Escambia Map Turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family.It is endemic to the United States.-Source:* Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. . Downloaded on 29 July 2007....
- Graptemys flavimaculata Cagle, 1954 – Yellow blotched sawbackYellow Blotched SawbackThe yellow-blotched map turtle , or yellow blotched sawback is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. They are a part of the narrow headed group of map turtles. This species is listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to a recent decline...
or Yellow-blotched map turtle - Graptemys geographica (Le Sueur, 1817) – Northern map turtleNorthern Map TurtleThe northern map turtle , or formerly common map turtle, is an aquatic turtle that belongs to the family Emydidae.-Description:...
, formerly known as the Common map turtle - Graptemys gibbonsi Lovich & McCoy, 1992 – Pascagoula map turtlePascagoula Map TurtleThe Pascagoula map turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. It is endemic to the Pascagoula River in the United States. It formerly included a population in the Pearl River, but in 2010 this was described as a separate species, the Pearl river map turtle...
- Graptemys nigrinoda Cagle, 1954 – Black-knobbed map turtleBlack-knobbed Map TurtleThe black-knobbed map turtle is a small to medium sized aquatic turtle with light gray skin. Some of the most distinguishing characteristics of the black-knobbed map turtle, and the Graptemys genus, are the protruding “spikes” on the turtle’s shell...
- Graptemys oculifera (Baur, 1890) – Ringed map turtleRinged Map TurtleThe ringed map turtle or ringed sawback is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. It is endemic to the Pearl River in the United States. It shares this range with the Pearl river map turtle.-Source:...
- Graptemys ouachitensis Cagle, 1953 – Ouachita map turtleOuachita Map TurtleThe Ouachita Map Turtle or Sabine Map Turtle is a species of turtle found in the United States. This species’ carapace features a row of low spines, and is serrated on the rim. The carapace is olive, dark brown, or black in coloration with light yellowish markings with dark borders...
- Graptemys pearlensis Ennen, Lovich, Kreiser, Selman, Qualls, 2010 – Pearl River map turtlePearl river map turtleThe Pearl river map turtle is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. It is endemic to the Pearl River in the United States. Until 2010, it was included in the Pascagoula map turtle, which it resembles. The ringed map turtle is also endemic to the Pearl River....
- Graptemys pseudogeographica (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1831) – False map turtleFalse Map TurtleThe false map turtle or Mississippi map turtle is a species of turtle found in the United States. It is a common pet species.- Identification :...
- Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii – Mississippi map turtleMississippi Map TurtleA Mississippi map turtle derives its name, not from the state, but the river. Its range is along the Mississippi and its tributaries from Illinois/Missouri southward....
- Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii – Mississippi map turtle
- Graptemys pulchra Baur, 1893 – Alabama map turtleAlabama Map TurtleThe Alabama map turtle is a turtle commonly found in the Mobile Bay drainage of Alabama, Georgia and rarely Mississippi. The species is a larger map turtle with females attaining a length of 11" inches. The keel on this map turtle is not black and there is a varied, yellow head marking...
- Graptemys versa StejnegerLeonhard Hess StejnegerLeonhard Hess Stejneger was a Norwegian-born American ornithologist, herpetologist and zoologist. Stejneger specialized in vertebrate natural history studies. He gained his greatest reputation with reptiles and amphibians....
, 1925 – Texas map turtleTexas Map TurtleThe Texas map turtle is a turtle commonly found in central Texas in the Colorado River drainage on the Edwards Plateau. The species is a smaller map turtle with females only attaining a length of 19 cm . The keel on this map turtle is not black and there is a J-shaped head marking...
External links
- ARKive - images and movies of the Cagle's map turtle (Graptemys caglei)
- Ouachita map turtle - Graptemys ouachitensis Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
- False map turtle - Graptemys pseudogeographica Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
- Common map turtle - Graptemys geographica Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide