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Texas map turtle
A Texas map turtle in Kimble County, TX
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Graptemys
Species:
G. versa
Binomial name
Graptemys versa
Stejneger, 1925 [1]
Range map
Synonyms
  • Graptemys pseudogeographica versa Stejneger, 1925
  • Graptemys versa — H.M. Smith, 1946
  • Malaclemys versa — McDowell, 1964 [2]
  • Graptemys versa — Conant, 1975 [3]

The Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa) is a species of emydid turtle endemic to Texas.

Geographic range

Endemic to Texas within the Colorado River (Texas) drainage

Description

Graptemys versa is a smaller turtle; females only attain a carapace length of 21.4 cm (8.4 in). Males are even smaller, only attaining a carapace length of 9.0 cm (3.5 in). When viewed dorsally, the carapace is oval-shaped with the widest part just above the rear legs. The posterior marginals are serrated and the carapacial scutes are convex.  A medial keel is present on the vertebral scutes with the most prominent keels being located on the first three.  The apex of these scutes are yellowish but often become worn down with age.  The base coloration of the carapace is olive green with yellow reticulations.  Juveniles and young adults often bear some slight pattern along the central seams of the plastral scutes.  However, some adults have a creamy yellow plastron free of markings.  

Diet

Map turtle researcher Peter Lindeman has documented the following dietary items from Texas map turtles: Freshwater sponges, algae, seeds, Asian clams, various aquatic insects, leeches, and crayfish.

References

  1. ^ database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Graptemys&species=versa Graptemys versa[ permanent dead link], Reptile Database
  2. ^ Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 190. doi: 10.3897/vz.57.e30895.
  3. ^ 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 versa, p. 58 + Plate 8 + Map 21.)

Further reading

  • Stejneger, L. 1925. New species and subspecies of American turtles. Journ. Washington Acad. Sci. 15 (20): 462–463. ("Graptemys pseudogeographica versa, new subspecies", p. 463.)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Graptemys versa.
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