False Mapturtle

The false map turtle is a species of turtle endemic to the United States. It is a common pet species. Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies described here. Geographic range. The false map turtle lives in large streams of the Missouri and Mississippi River systems, ranging from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, through the Dakotas southward to southwestern Alabama, southern and western Mississippi, and Louisiana. False Map subspecies has a backward, yellow “L” mark behind eye with narrow, yellow neck stripes touching the edge of each eye. Mississippi Map subspecies has yellow crescent behind eye and neck stripes do not touch edge of eye. In terms of their personality, False Map Turtles are considered docile, and they typically will not bite you, so they make good pets. They can be housed with other turtles, such as other Map Turtles, Painted Turtles, Cooters, Sliders, Mud Turtles, and Musk Turtles, in a community enclosure as well. False map turtles feed upon a large amount of aquatic insects. They also consume aquatic plants, fish (especially dead fish), crayfish, and other aquatic life.

Species: G. pseudogeographica

Family: Emydidae

Order: Testudines

Genus: Graptemys

Kingdom: Animalia