False map turtle

Species of turtle From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

False map turtle

The false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) is a species of turtle endemic to the United States. It is a common pet species. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies described here.

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
False map turtle
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Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Graptemys
Species:
G. pseudogeographica
Binomial name
Graptemys pseudogeographica
(Gray, 1831)
Subspecies
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Range map
Synonyms
  • Emys pseudogeographica
    Gray, 1831
  • Emys lesueurii
    Gray, 1831
  • Graptemys lesueurii
    Agassiz, 1857
  • Clemmys pseudogeographica
    Strauch, 1862
  • Graptemys pseudogeographica
    — Gray, 1863
  • Malacoclemmys pseudogeographicus
    Cope, 1875
  • Malacoclemmys lesueuri
    Yarrow, 1883 (ex errore)
  • Malacoclemmys pseudographicus
    [N.S.] Davis & [F.L.] Rice, 1883
    (ex errore)
  • Malacoclemmys lesueurii
    Boulenger, 1889
  • Malaclemys pseudogeographica
    O.P. Hay, 1892
  • Malaclemys pseudogeographicus
    — Paulmier, 1902
  • Graptemys pseudogeographicus
    Siebenrock, 1909
  • Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
    Stejneger & Barbour, 1917
  • Malaclemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
    Cochran & Goin, 1970
  • Graptemys pseudogeoraphica
    Anan'eva et al., 1988 (ex errore)[3]
  • Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica
    — Crother, 2000[2]
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Description

Also known as a "sawback" turtle, the turtle has a carapace featuring a vertebral row of low spines, and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive to brown in color with light yellowish markings with dark borders. The plastron color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines along the seams in juveniles. The body color of the false map turtle is grayish brown to blackish and is marked with light brown, yellow, or whitish stripes. The eye can be brown, light yellow, white, or green and is crossed with a dark bar. Narrow hooked marks behind the eye fuse with dorsal lines on the head and neck. Also, small light-colored spots occur below the eye and on the chin.

Geographic range

The false map turtle lives in large streams of the Missouri and Mississippi River systems, ranging from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, through the Dakotas southward to southwestern Alabama, southern and western Mississippi, and Louisiana. The false map turtle also lives in several other river systems of Southwest Louisiana and East Texas.

Conservation status

In the Midwest, the false map turtle is a species of special interest in Ohio.

Behavior

Map turtles of all kinds are avid baskers, spending many hours during the day in the sun. When with other turtles, they also are very communal, sharing space and using each other for predator-watching, increasing the odds of surviving an attack.

Subspecies

Ecology

The false map turtle is a strong swimmer and prefers rivers and large creeks with moderate currents, containing aquatic vegetation, as well as snags or floating logs. They are also comfortable in deep and swift water. The turtles are present in oxbow lakes and sloughs, but are absent from lakes, ponds, or small streams. Basking is important to these turtles, and they may even be found on steep, slippery snags.

Threats and management issues

A variety of threats face this species, including the destruction of nests of eggs by animals and insects, falling victim to gill nets, and being shot. False map turtles, much like red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), have also been collected for the pet trade.

References

Further reading

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