False map turtle
Conservation status
Least Concern  ( IUCN 3.1) [1]
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
G. p. pseudogeographica (Gray, 1831), false map turtle G. p. kohnii ( Baur, 1890), Mississippi map turtle [2]
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 Davis & 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, 1988 (ex errore) [3] Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica — Crother, 2000 [2]

The false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) is a species of turtle endemic to the United States. It is a commonly-kept pet species. Two subspecies are recognized—the nominate subspecies (G. pseudogeographica), described here, and the Mississippi map turtle (G. p. kohnii).

Description

Also known as a "sawback" turtle, the false map turtle's carapace features a raised, almost arched form, with a unique vertebral row of low spines down the center of its back. The shell is serrated on the posterior rim, and is olive to brownish in color, showing some lighter, yellowish markings with dark edging. The plastron color varies from creamy beige to yellow, and, in juvenile turtles, is patterned with dark lines along the seams. The body color of the false map turtle is grayish-brown to blackish, and its head, in contrast, is streaked with horizontal brownish-yellow or white stripes. The eyes can be brown, light yellow, white, or green, and are bisected with a dark stripe. Narrow, hooked marks behind the eye also fuse with dorsal stripes on the head and neck; smaller, light-colored spots occur just below the eye and chin.

Geographic range

The false map turtle's native range is primarily east of the Rocky Mountains, encompassing large tributaries and offshoots of the Missouri and Mississippi River systems. ^[4] Thus, the species may be found in the Midwest, from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota, north through the Dakotas and south through southwestern Alabama, southern and western Mississippi, and Louisiana. ^[4] The false map turtle also lives in several other river systems of Southwest Louisiana and East Texas. ^[4]

Due to the release of unwanted pet map turtles, likely by unqualified individuals, the species has also become established in areas outside of its natural range, including southwestern British Columbia, Canada (around Vancouver), ^[5] and the regions of Guanajuato, Mexico City and Nayarit, Mexico. ^[4] In the U.S., false map turtle sightings have been documented in the western states of California, Colorado, Nevada (near metro Las Vegas), Oregon and Washington. ^[4]

Conservation status

Overall, despite increasing encroachment by humans and potential changes to their natural habitats, the false map turtle is listed as "least concern" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, in the Midwest, it is a species of "special interest", especially 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

• Nominotypical subspecies: G. p. pseudogeographica ( Gray, 1831) – False or northern false map turtle.
• G. p. kohnii ( Baur, 1890) – Mississippi map turtle. ^[2]

Ecology

The false map turtle is an adept swimmer and prefers to inhabit rivers and large creeks with moderate to semi-strong currents, containing aquatic vegetation, exposed boulders, snags or floating logs. They are most comfortable in deeper, fast-flowing, well-oxygenated waters (as opposed to other species, such as snapping turtles, which prefer darker, still—possibly stagnant—ponds). False map turtles are still present in oxbow lakes and sloughs, but are largely absent from lakes, ponds, or smaller streams. The sun and basking are very important to these turtles, and they prefer to live in areas with fewer trees or shade cover overhead; they may even be found sunning 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, rather then bred in captivity, which potentially threatens wild populations. In captivity, many turtles will inevitably end up in the possession of children or unqualified persons.

In addition to some pet turtles potentially escaping and surviving in the wild, it is thought that many, many more are likely to be set free in local waterways by their unprepared owners, or the weary parents of children who have lose interest, rather than being re-homed or surrendered to a local humane society, turtle or reptile group (or even a pet store); this has inevitably lead to the false map turtle being sighted in areas well beyond its native range, such as Arizona, California and other states west of the Rockies.

Gallery

• 
  Clutch preparation of a breeding false map turtle on a meadow
• 
  Same turtle during oviposition

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Graptemys pseudogeographica.

Further reading

• Conant, R. (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN  0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN  0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Graptemys pseudogeographica, pp. 57–58 + Plate 8 + Map 14.)
• Ernst, C.H., J.E. Lovich and R.W. Barbour. (1994). Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, District of Columbia.
• Gray, J.E. (1831). Synopsis Reptilium; or Short Descriptions of the Species of Reptiles. Part I.—Cataphracta. Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Enaliosaurians. Treuttel, Wurz, and Co. London. viii + 85 pp. + 11 plates. (Emys pseudogeographica, p. 31.)
• Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie Jr. (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN  0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Graptemys pseudogeographica, pp. 50–51.)

External links

• Graptemys pseudogeographica Archived 18 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Illinois Natural History Survey
• False Map Turtle, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa
• Graptemys pseudogeographica, The Reptile Database