Nebraska Herpetofaunal Atlas

REPTILIA (Reptiles) TESTUDINES (Turtles) EMYDIDAE (Box and Basking Turtles)

False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica Cagle 1953/(Gray 1831)
grăp-tĕm-ēz — sū-dō-gē-ō-gră-fĭ-kă

Conservation Status:
State: None
Federal: None
NatureServe State: S5 - Secure
NatureServe National: N5 - Secure
NatureServe Global: G5 - Secure
CITES: None

Diagnosis:
This is a relatively large river-dwelling turtle with large, paddle-like hind feet that help it swim through fast-moving water. The carapace is olive green to brown in color and has a distinct medial keel with low-profile spines. The plastron is generally unmarked and is yellow or cream colored. Size ranges from 6.0-11.0 inches (15.2-27.8 cm) with females significantly larger than males. The posterior marginal scutes are serrated, and the head and neck are heavily streaked with yellow stripes. Two varieties have been found in Nebraska: the False Map Turtle (G. p. pseudogeographica) and the Mississippi Map Turtle (G. p. kohnii). They differ in three respects: The Mississippi Map Turtle has a large curved stripe posterior to the eye that prevents any neck stripes from reaching the eye; it has a very light, almost white iris with no horizontal line through it; and the plastron normally has a pattern or remnants of a pattern. False Map Turtles lack all these features.

Distribution:
Large rivers and their tributaries within the Missouri and Mississippi River drainages from North Dakota south into eastern Texas, and from eastern Minnesota/western Wisconsin south to Gulf coastal Mississippi and extreme western Florida. Isolated populations exist in Indiana and Ohio. In Nebraska this is almost strictly a Missouri River turtle but it also can be found in some tributaries and nearly all of the associated oxbow lakes and reservoirs. The Mississippi Map Turtle has been found only in the Missouri River in Nemaha County in extreme southeastern Nebraska.
(, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record) (, iNat Record), ( Fossil)
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Occurrence Summary:
76
Records
76
Museum Vouchers
0
Other Observations

Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above.
County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences):
Burt (2); Cass (3); Cedar (5); Dixon (12); Douglas (2); Knox (5); Lancaster (1); Mills (8); Pottawattamie (2); Richardson (4); Sarpy (24); Saunders (1); Washington (7);

Natural History:
False Map Turtles are active from early April through late October although their season may be slightly shorter in the northern portion of their range. Mating occurs early in the season but in some areas may occur again in the fall. Females will leave the water to nest in open sandy areas in late May through July. They often lay multiple clutches of oval-shaped eggs throughout summer, and they will often exhibit nest-site fidelity from year to year. Eggs begin hatching in August, and young turtles occupy backwater areas where they feed until hibernation begins. False Map Turtles are omnivorous but mainly eat insects, insect larvae, mollusks, and occasionally fish or dead fish. Large rivers and associated backwater ponds are the primary habitats for False Map Turtles; however, they can also be found in large lakes near large streams and smaller streams that are tributaries to large rivers. River banks with adequate basking sites such as fallen trees, stumps, sandy shores, and sand bars are preferred basking areas.

Occurrence Activity:

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Account Last Updated:
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