Mississippi Map Turtle
(Graptemys kohnii)
 
Range: Central North America.

Habitat: Freshwater ponds, rivers, lakes.

Diet: Fish, crayfish, worms, aquatic plants, tadpoles, snails, small frogs.

Identification: Small, dark-blue faced turtles with yellow eyes, yellow markings, yellow patches behind its eyes, backwards-hooked scutes on the carapace, and “beaked” faces.

Notes: Mississippi map turtles are very fond of freshwater. They are excellent swimmers and spend considerably less time basking than painted turtles. These turtles are omnivorous, eating fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, and aquatic plants. Mississippi map turtle populations have suffered due to over collection (remember, removal of any animal not only removes that animal, but the potential for that animal to breed and have little baby Mississippi map turtles). Map turtles are valued for their attractive and unique overall appearance and because they are relatively small turtles compared to others in the pet trade. Mississippi map turtles do not make good pets because they are shy, not particularly hardy, and -accustomed to large, watery spaces. This species is sometimes considered a subspecies of the false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica). Like many turtles, Mississippi map turtles can live for over two decades. Male map turtles have longer “fingernails” than the females. These “fingernails” are used in their courtship rituals.

At the Children’s Museum: The Children’s Museum has a Mississippi Map turtle in Turtle Town.