Reptiles
Mississippi Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii · also called Mississippi map turtles
Basking in a row along a log in the Mississippi River drainage, a group of Mississippi map turtles slips into the water almost in unison at the first sign of an approaching disturbance, each one marked with the same small crescent behind the eye that gives the species away up close.
Overview
The Mississippi map turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii, is a finely patterned turtle native to rivers and lakes across the Mississippi River drainage and adjacent river systems of the central United States. Its distinctive crescent-shaped eye markings and map-like shell pattern make it one of the more recognisable members of a genus known for many closely related, river-specific species.
A map turtle marked for easy recognition
Among a genus notorious for species that require close inspection to tell apart, the Mississippi map turtle’s crescent-shaped eye mark offers a genuinely convenient shortcut, letting even a casual observer confirm identification without needing to examine finer shell details.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable river and lake habitat throughout the Mississippi River drainage and adjacent systems.
Mississippi Map Turtle: common questions
How can you identify a Mississippi map turtle?
A Mississippi map turtle displays a distinctive small, crescent-shaped light mark behind each eye, a feature useful for distinguishing it from several similar map turtle relatives, along with a shell marked by fine, map-like lines and a low to moderate central keel.
Do Mississippi map turtles bask in groups?
Yes, the Mississippi map turtle basks readily on exposed logs, rocks, and sandbars, often in groups alongside other turtles, though the whole group is typically quick to slip into the water at the first sign of an approaching disturbance.
Are male and female Mississippi map turtles the same size?
No, a female Mississippi map turtle grows considerably larger than a male of the same species, a size difference common among map turtles generally and often linked to differences in diet and jaw structure between the sexes.
Where does the Mississippi map turtle live?
The Mississippi map turtle is native to rivers and lakes across the Mississippi River drainage and adjacent river systems of the central United States, generally favouring habitat with logs, rocks, or sandbars for basking.