Graptemys

Graptemys
False map turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Subclass: Anapsida
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Subfamily: Deirochelyinae
Genus: Graptemys
Agassiz, 1857
Species

12, see text

Graptemys is a genus of turtles known commonly as map turtles or sometimes sawback turtles. They are aquatic, freshwater turtles that are found throughout the eastern half of the United States and northward into southern Canada. They superficially resemble many other species of aquatic turtle, including sliders (Trachemys) and cooters (Pseudemys). However, they are distinguished by a keel that runs the length of the center of their carapace; they also typically grow to a smaller size at maturity. They are given the name map turtle due to the map-like markings on the carapace. Average life expectancy of map turtles ranges from 15 to 20 years.

Contents

Pet trade

Throughout the pet trade Mississippi, False, and Ouachita map turtles were bred and hatched out by the thousands back in the 1970s. Some other various turtles were available but as the 4-Inch Law was established map turtles and others slowly decreased in popularity. Today these same common three still hold the title for most common among the pet trade. Other species that are being captive-bred more often include; the Texas map turtle, Cagle's map turtle, and the Black-knobbed map turtle. Some harder-to-find map turtles include the Yellow-blotched map turtle and the subspecies, Delta map turtle (Graptemys nigrinoda delticola).

Species

(Listed alphabetically)[1]

References

  1. ^ Genus Graptemys at The Reptile Database
  2. ^ Joshua R. Ennen, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Brian R. Kreiser, W. Selman, Carl P. Qualls (2010): Genetic and Morphological Variation Between Populations of the Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) in the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers with Description of a New Species. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 9(1):98–113

External links