Map Turtles | Herps of Texas

Graptemys caglei

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Graptemys caglei

Common Name. Cagle’s Map Turtle

General information. Like many map turtles, Cagle’s Map Turtle is a wary, diurnal species that prefers to bask on logs and rocks away from the river’s edge. The diet of this turtle is primarily insects and snails.

Protected status. Cagle’s Map Turtle is listed as threatened by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and is protected in the state of Texas. This species is also listed as a C1 species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Diagnostic features. Narrow head Flattened elliptical carapace with serrated posterior edge and vertebral keel of spine-like projections. Males with longer vertebral spines than females. Males with longer fingernails on forelimbs than females. Unhinged plastron with pigmented seams. Webbed feet.

Coloration. Distinct, light colored V-shaped marking on top of head; each arm of V descends and forms crescent behind eye Additional light colored stripes on top of dark head and neck. Limbs and tail also black with numerous stripes. Dark edged, light colored crescent or band across chin. Carapace brown to green, with each scute having yellow. Males with some pigment on plastron.

General distribution. In North America, Graptemys caglei is restricted to two watersheds in Texas.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Graptemys caglei is known only in the San Antonio and Guadalupe River drainages, although this species may be extirpated from the San Antonio drainage.

Habitat. Cagle’s Map Turtle inhabits the Guadalupe River drainage, a river with relatively shallow depths, but this species has been found in pools along the river in depths up to 3 m.

Reproduction. Nesting is thought to be late spring through early summer with egg clutch sizes ranging from 1-6 and females possibly laying 2 or 3 clutches per year. Nests are dug immediately adjacent to the riverbank.

Size. Graptemys caglei is a small map turtle, reaching adult lengths of 7-12.5 cm (3-5 in) in males and up to 21 cm (8.5 in) in females.

Map. Orange counties indicate new county records since previous Herps of Texas update in 1998; all other colored counties reflect known distribution prior to 1998 for species and/or subspecies. Map is based on museum voucher specimens.

Graptemys ouachitensis

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Graptemys ouachitensis

Common Name. Ouachita Map Turtle

General information. This turtle species spends much of its day basking on logs, rocks, or other available basking sites. An omnivore, this map turtle grazes on algae and aquatic vegetation as well as various invertebrates (insects and crayfish). Males and juveniles are more carnivorous than females.

Protected status. The Ouachita Map Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Flattened, elliptical carapace with serrated posterior edge and vertebral keel of spine-like projections; serrated edge and projections becoming less distinct with age. Plastron unhinged. Webbed feet. Head narrow with no medial notch or hook on upper jaw. Males with longer fingernails on forelimbs than females.

Coloration. Carapace brown to dark green Plastron is yellow/cream and can be pigmented extensively in juveniles, pigment fades in adults. Yellow markings and dark blotches on each pleural scute; marginal surfaces with yellow eye spots at seam. Skin olive or brown; yellow stripes present on legs and tail. One to nine yellow neck markings contacting eye. Transverse yellow chin bars. Yellow crescent behind eye (also can be square/rectangular/oval) and two yellow spots below eye.

General distribution. In North America, Graptemys ouachitensis is found along the Mississippi River drainage, from Illinois and Missouri to Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Texas distribution. In Texas, the two subspecies of Graptemys ouachitensis , G. o. ouachitensis and G. o. sabinensis are restricted to the Red River and Sabine River drainages in the northeastern portion of the state.

Habitat. The Ouachita Map Turtle is found in large rivers as well as lakes and river-bottom swamps.

Reproduction. Females can lay up to three clutches of eggs each year, each clutch consisting of 6-15 eggs. Nesting season is May to July. Incubation is 50 to 80 days.

Size. Graptemys ouachitensis exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males reaching smaller adult lengths (14 cm; 5.5 in) than females (24 cm; 9.5 in).

Graptemys pseudogeographica

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Graptemys pseudogeographica

Common Name. False Map Turtle

General information. Like other map turtles, the False Map Turtle is a diurnal, basking turtle. Wary of predators, this species will slide from their basking perch (log or rock) into water without hesitation. This species is omnivorous, feeding on aquatic vegetation as well as insects, insect larvae, and mollusks. Females may be more dependent than males on mollusks for food.

Protected status. The False Map Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Elliptical carapace with serrated posterior edge and vertebral keel of spine-like projections Plastron unhinged. Webbed feet. Head narrow with no medial notch or hook on upper jaw. Males with longer fingernails on forelimbs than females.

Coloration. Carapace brown to dark green Plastron is yellow/cream and lacks pigment, save around margins. Oval markings (yellow) and blotches (dark) on each pleural scute; marginal surfaces with yellow bulls-eye at seam. Skin olive or brown; several yellow stripes present on legs, tail, chin and neck. Yellow crescents behind each eye that keep neck stripes from contacting eye.

General distribution. In North America, Graptemys pseudogeographica is found along the Mississippi River drainage, from Illinois and Missouri to Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Texas distribution. In Texas, Graptemys pseudogeographica is found across the wet northeastern corner of the state.

Habitat. The False Map Turtle prefers slow moving waters with abundant aquatic vegetation.

Reproduction. Mating may occur during different times of the year. Females can lay up to three clutches of eggs each year, each clutch consisting of 8-22 eggs. Incubation is 50 to 80 days.

Size. Adult male Graptemys pseudogeographica may reach carapace lengths of 15 cm (6 in), with females being larger, reaching 25 cm (10 in).

Graptemys versa

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scientific name. Graptemys versa

Common Name. Texas Map Turtle

General information. The Texas Map Turtle is like other map turtles: diurnal, spending much of their day basking on rocks and logs. This species is likely omnivorous, feeding on both aquatic vegetation and invertebrate prey (insects and mollusks).

Protected status. The Texas Map Turtle is not a protected species in Texas and can be legally collected with a hunting license.

Diagnostic features. Anterior scutes distinctly convex Flattened, elliptical carapace with serrated posterior edge and vertebral keel of low spine-like projections. Plastron unhinged. Head narrow with no medial notch or hook on upper jaw. Webbed feet. Males with longer fingernails on forelimbs than females.

Coloration. Carapace olive; yellow plastron with pigment along margins Light yellow blotch anterior to each vertebral spine Yellow reticulations on each carapacial scute, including dorsal marginals. Horizontal or J-shaped line behind eye; postocular mark may extend backward from trailing edge. Three to six yellow lines extend up neck to contact orbit. Olive skin; many dark lines surrounding yellow areas. Chin may have orange or yellow blotches with dark borders.

General distribution. In North America, Graptemys versa is restricted to the state of Texas.

Texas distribution. In Texas, the endemic Graptemys versa is found along the Colorado River drainage in the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas.

Habitat. The Texas Map Turtle can be found in shallow streams, usually with moderate current.

Reproduction. Little is recorded about reproduction in this species. Reproduction is probably similar to G. caglei with multiple clutches possible from May to July.

Size. Adult Graptemys versa range in size from 6.5-11 cm (2.5-4.5 in) in males and 9-21.5 cm (3.5-8.5 in) in females.