(Graptemys geographica)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure S5 - Secure |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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There are fifteen recognized species of map turtles, three of which occur in Minnesota. Northern map turtle is the most common and widespread of the map turtles. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Great Plains, and in eastern New York and eastern Pennsylvania. It is found in medium and large lakes and rivers with deep water and with fallen trees, snags, and other opportunities for basking. In Minnesota it occurs in the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers. Northern map turtle is a large freshwater turtle. Size is usually given given as the length of the upper shell (carapace). Males are 4″ to 6¼″ (10 to 16 cm) long. Females are much larger, 71⁄16″ to 10⅝″ (18 to 27 cm) long. The carapace is olive green to grayish-brown. It is marked with a network of fine yellow or orange lines. The lines resemble contour lines on a map. This is the feature that gives the genus its common name. The lines become less distinct as the turtle matures. On older individuals, they may not be visible unless the carapace is wet. There is a long, dark blotch along the keel that spreads along the edges on the scutes, and often many smaller scattered dark blothces, but these also fades as the turtle matures. The rear margin is flared, sawtoothed, and slightly scalloped due to the scales (scutes). On young turtles the carapace is distinctly keeled and the scutes are bordered with dark lines. On mature adults it is only slightly keeled and the lines fade. The lower shell (plastron) is uniformly yellow. The head, neck, and limbs are dark olive green, brown, or black, with thin yellow, green, or orangish stripes. Most have a small yellow spot behind each eye. |
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Size |
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Male carapace length: 4″ to 6¼″ (10 to 16 cm) Female carapace length: 71⁄16″ to 10⅝″ (18 to 27 cm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Medium and large lakes and rivers with deep water and with fallen trees, snags, and other opportunities for basking |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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5½ years (in captivity) |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Mostly clams, crayfish, and snails, but also aquatic insects, fish, and plants |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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7/5/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Reptilia (reptiles) | ||
Order | Testudines (turtles and tortoises) | ||
Suborder | Cryptodira (hidden-necked turtles) | ||
Superfamily | Testudinoidea | ||
Family |
Emydidae (pond and box turtles) | ||
Subfamily |
Deirochelyinae | ||
Genus |
Graptemys (map turtles) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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No recognized subspecies |
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Synonyms |
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Clemmys geographica Emys geographica Emys lesueurii Emys macrocephala Emys megacephala Graptemys geographicus Graptemys lesueurii Malaclemmys geographicus Malaclemys geographica Malaclemys geographicus Malaclemys lesueurii Malaclemys lesueurii lesueurii Malacoclemmys geographica Malacoclemmys lesueurii Terrapene geographica Testudo geographica |
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Common Names |
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common map turtle northern map turtle |
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Northern map turtle was previously known as common map turtle. |
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Glossary
Carapace
The hard, upper (dorsal), shell-like covering (exoskeleton) of the body or at least the thorax of many arthropods and of turtles and tortoises. On crustaceans, it covers the cephalothorax. On spiders, the top of the cephalothorax made from a series of fused sclerites.
Plastron
The hard, lower (ventral), shell-like covering (exoskeleton) of the body of turtles and tortoises.
Scute
A hard, external scale that forms part of the exoskeleton; as on the belly of a snake, the upper and lower shells of hard-shelled turtles, and the foot of a bird.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this reptile. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Kim Pettit |
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Northern Map Turtle nesting? I took these pictures and a video in front of our townhouse in Victoria, MN on July 3rd, 2023. This was actually my second sighting in this small area. She left shortly after I saw her one weekend morning a week or three ago. This time it was late afternoon/early evening. We believe she is a Northern Map Turtle. She appears to be nesting in the yard of our townhouse association. We have a lawn service that mows the lawn and are wondering, should we protect the space when the hatchlings are due to emerge? |
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We are next to a pond on Madelyn Creek. We assume she is climbing a hill out of the pond to nest in the yard which is not sandy. She left within ten minutes of me taking the video. I was going to send the video as well, but it is too large for me to email. | ![]() |
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Nancy Falkum |
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Northern Map Turtle on 598th Street by DNR Overflow Parking Lot |
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Greg Watson |
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I spotted it on a log while biking along the Reno (MN) Dike Trail. |
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Mike Poeppe |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this reptile. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Kim Pettit |
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Northern Map Turtle nesting? Jul 5, 2023 |
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About
northern map turtle (Graptemys geographica) I took these pictures and a video in front of our townhouse in Victoria, MN on July 3rd, 2023. This was actually my second sighting in this small area. She left shortly after I saw her one weekend morning a week or three ago. This time it was late afternoon/early evening. We believe she is a Northern Map Turtle. She appears to be nesting in the yard of our townhouse association. We have a lawn service that mows the lawn and are wondering, should we protect the space when the hatchlings are due to emerge? We are next to a pond on Madelyn Creek. We assume she is climbing a hill out of the pond to nest in the yard which is not sandy. She left within ten minutes of me taking the video. I was going to send the video as well, but it is too large for me to email. Video by Kim Pettit |
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Other Videos |
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Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network |
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About
Dec 26, 2012 |
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Map Turtle, Graptemys geographica Todd Crail |
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About
Aug 11, 2013 A Map Turtle in a Michigan lake, hiding out among a large bed of calcareous algae (Chara sp.) growing in the shallows. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Kim Pettit 7/3/2023 |
Location: Victoria, MN I took these pictures and a video in front of our townhouse in Victoria, MN on July 3rd, 2023. This was actually my second sighting in this small area. She left shortly after I saw her one weekend morning a week or three ago. This time it was late afternoon/early evening. We believe she is a Northern Map Turtle. |
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She appears to be nesting in the yard of our townhouse association. We have a lawn service that mows the lawn and are wondering, should we protect the space when the hatchlings are due to emerge? We are next to a pond on Madelyn Creek. We assume she is climbing a hill out of the pond to nest in the yard which is not sandy. She left within ten minutes of me taking the video. I was going to send the video as well, but it is too large for me to email. |
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John Valo 7/5/2023 |
Protecting the area might be a good idea. Of course, it would have to be done with the consent and ideally with the assistance of the property manager or caretaker. |
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Nancy Falkum 6/16/2022 |
Location: Weaver Dunes Preserve, Cox Unit Northern Map Turtle at TNC Cox Unit near entrance |
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Greg Watson 6/27/2021 |
Location: Reno (MN) Dike Trail I spotted it on a log while biking along the Reno (MN) Dike Trail. |
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Mike Poeppe 6/11/2021 |
Location: near Lock & Dam 7 |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/3/2021
Last Updated: