Yellow-blotched map turtle
The yellow-blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata), or yellow blotched sawback is a species of turtle in the Emydidae family. They are a part of the narrow headed group of map turtles. This species is listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to a recent decline. This can be attributed to a low reproductive frequency as compared with most other map turtles, with a maximum of 1.16 clutches per female. A high level of nest mortality due to fish crow predation and river flooding are also attributed to endangerment. Unexpectedly high occurrences of nesting in shaded areas could possibly be attributed to human disturbances on and near sandbars, which raises mortality rates.
Range
It is endemic to the United States. Its habitat is limited to the Pascagoula River of Mississippi and most of its tributaries (a range it shared with the Pascagoula map turtle), and suffers from pollution and agricultural changes to the water levels, affecting nesting beaches. "Turtle plinking" kills significant portions of this endangered turtle's population each year. Males have a mean home range area of 1.12 ha and a mean home range length of 1.8 km. Females have a mean home range area of 5.75 ha, due to nesting activities, and a mean home range length of 1.5 km.
Description
Yellow blotched map turtles are medium to small sized turtles, with males ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 inches in size as adults. Adult females are larger, about 5 to 7.5 inches long. The yellow blotched has the highest central keel of all map turtles.
Diet
Yellow blotched map turtles feed mostly on insects, but are opportunistic feeders so also consume crustaceans and fish.
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