The Northern Map Turtle gets both its common and scientific names from the marking on the skin and carapace. The light markings resemble contour lines on a map or chart.[2] The lines on the carapace are shades of yellow, tan, or orange and are surrounded by dark borders. The rest of the carapace is olive or greyish brown. The carapace markings on older individuals tend to fade but are usually still apparent when the shell is wet. The carapace has a hydrodynamic appearance and is broad with a moderately low keel.
Ten Facts about Common Map Turtle
- Males are 10-16 cm (4-6 inches) in carapace length and weigh between 150-400g, while females are 18-27 cm (7-10.5 inches) in carapace length and weigh around 0.5-2.5 kg (1-5 lbs).
- Northern Map Turtles inhabit an area from south Quebec and Ontario to northern Vermont where it lives in the St. Lawrence River drainage basin. Its range extends west through the Great Lakes and into southern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota, west of the Appalachians, south to Kansas, northwestern Georgia.
- The Northern Map Turtle inhabits ponds, rivers and lakes. They prefer large bodies of water and areas with fallen trees and other debris for basking.
- Northern Map Turtles breed in the spring and fall. Most mating makes place in deep waters.
- The size of the clutch is between 6 to 20.
- At 25 degrees Celsius incubation produces a majority of males whereas 30-35°C yields more females.
- Map Turtles are more carnivorous, their primary prey, as well as insects and crayfish.
- Predators includes snakes, frogs, birds, e.t.c.
- It's scientific name is Graptemys geographica.
- Life span in captivity is 20-25 years.
