15 Interesting Map Turtle Facts for Owners

Map turtles are beautiful creatures with interesting habits. The species is very different from other turtles. Even some of its characteristics will make you astonished.

Some interesting map turtle facts are:

• Unlike most other turtle species, map turtles exhibit extreme sex dimorphism.
• The map turtles never come to the land area except for the time of basking and laying eggs.
• Though the map turtles are omnivorous, they mostly act like carnivorous species.

In this article, I will discuss the exciting facts about map turtles. At the end of the article, you will end up learning your pet more closely than before.

Name Origin of Map Turtles

What is in the name?

If you have ever wondered why this species is called map turtles, well, I have a logical answer for you. To understand the part, “MAP,” just take a look at the carapaces and bodies of these tiny creatures. You will see thin lines running all over the shell, and all the dots eventually meet at a point.

In some cases, the lines can be disturbed by unwanted spots or markings. The design almost looks like a detailed road map. And that is why the species is called MAP turtle. Now do not confuse the map turtles with other species by observing similar patterns. These are very distinctive and different from other turtle species.

Why does it call Sawback turtles?

Map turtle has an additional name. Some people call it Sawback turtle. For example black knobbed Sawback. But why do people call it by that name?

The map turtles have tiny knobs or spikes on the back of their carapace. The line of spikes looks like a saw on the turtle’s back. And that is why this common species is called ‘Sawback’ turtles.

Area Preferences of the Map Turtles

Where will you find them in nature?

We know that map turtles are semi-aquatic species, and they prefer living in rivers or lakes. Surprisingly, you may found more than one map turtle species in the same water body. The choice of habitat may vary from species to species. But the most common place to find them are:

• Quick moving stream
• Freshwater lake
• Slow-moving ponds
• Muddy water
• Large water bodies with little vegetation

Range of their habitats

Different studies claim that most of the map turtle species live all over the United States, especially in North America. Their natural habitat range extends from southeast Canada to the eastern and southeast United States. If you want to find a map turtle naturally, you have to look into their native habitats.

Most of the time, they do not change their location once they get settled. However, many map turtle species prefer living a secretive life, and they are hard to spot. Some of them live across thousands of miles. On the other hand, some spend their whole life in a small region.

Male Female Differences in Map Turtles

Sexual dimorphism

Unlike most other turtle species, map turtles exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. It means distinctive characteristics that will help you distinguish a male map turtle from a female map turtle. Some of these factors are:

1. Body size
2. Tail size
3. The shape of the keels

Click here to know to identify a map turtle’s gender.

Females are larger than the males

In most turtle species, you will notice that the male turtles are bigger than the female ones. But in map turtle species, the female turtles are larger than the male turtles.

For most map turtle subspecies, the female ones are around double the size of the male ones. Take the Mississippi map turtle as an example. The male Mississippi map turtles can grow between 3.5 to 5 inches, whereas the female Mississippi map turtles can be around 6 to 10 inches.

Click here to know how big each map turtle species can grow.

Extinction and Law Regarding Map Turtles

Are we losing them?

It is unfortunate that many subspecies of these beautiful little creatures are threatened and are at the edge of extinction. Some endangered map turtle species are:

1. Northern map turtle
2. Ringed map turtle
3. Barbour’s map turtle
4. Cagle’s map turtle
5. Yellow blotched map turtle

The reasons behind this miserable situation are:

• Pollution
• Habitat destruction
• Natural calamities
• Black market
• Illegal pet trade

Law and enforcement regarding map turtles

As you can see, most of the map turtle species are at the edge of extinction, the Government has stepped forward to save this creature. They have forced some rules on the selling and exporting of the endangered species. Such as:

1. No one can import or export any species without the permission of the legal authority.
2. No one can sell the endangered species, and they need to apply for the state license for selling other species.
3. If anyone takes a turtle from the wild, legal charges can be brought upon him.

However, to save the children from the salmonella bacteria, the 4 inches law was enforced in 1970. Generally speaking, the law states that selling a map turtle hatchling under 4 inches can carry the salmonella bacteria. And for that reason, it is illegal to sell hatchlings.

Housing and Care

Enclosure

Map turtle’s enclosure requirement is similar to a red eared slider. The species requires a large size habitat to move freely. Also, you have to set up a dock for the pet so that it can bask there.

Water filter

Map turtles are sensitive to water quality. If the water is not fresh, the pet can suffer from various shell diseases. And that is why setting up a good quality water filter is always necessary.

Dormancy of Map Turtles

Like all other reptiles, map turtles are cold-blooded. They depend on an external source to generate heat inside their bodies. In severe cold weather, without any proper heating sources, their heart rate and overall body metabolism fall.

To stay alive and healthy, they go dormant for the whole winter season. The map turtles choose fallen logs under the lake as their hibernation place.

Map Turtles Can Eat Everything

Do not take my words with literal meaning. By everything, I meant the species is omnivorous. But they prefer eating animal-based foods more than plants and vegetation. One more thing, the map turtles do not like very sweet foods like fruits.

Click here to learn the proper diet plan for your map turtle.

How Long Can You Pet Them?

It is sad that the map turtles have a shorter lifespan. Most of the turtle species have a life expectancy of about 70 to 100 years, the average lifespan of a map turtle is 20 to 40 years. Even some map turtles do not live up to 5 to 14 years.

Click here to know how long each map turtle species can survive in captivity.

Are Map Turtles Human Friendly Or Not?

Map turtles are not very social like many other turtle species, but they are not aggressive either. Their days pass by between searching for food and basking their bodies under any heating source. In case you force the species anything, they might bite you or can show aggression towards you.

Read this to know how you can keep the map turtle calm.

How Much Will a Map Turtle Cost You?

The price of a map turtle is very reasonable. Surprisingly, you can get one at around 6 USA dollars. But do not think the species is cheap. Some map turtle species may cost you more than 2000 USA dollars.

Click here to know the market price of all the map turtle species.

Reproduction of Map Turtles

It takes a long time for the map turtles to gain sexual maturity. For the male map turtles, the age is 4 to 6 years, and the age is 10 to 14 years for the female ones.

Map turtles engage in mating twice a year, and the gravid map turtle can lay 3 clutches of eggs per year. You may find 8 to 22 eggs per clutches.

10 Additional Facts about Map Turtles

1. Map turtles belong to the Graptemys genus in the Emididae family.
2. The gravid map turtles come to the land area to lay her eggs.
3. You can breed your map turtle with a red eared slider.
4. The gender of a map turtle’s hatchlings depends on the incubation temperature.
5. The tail of a male map turtle is longer than the female one.
6. The male map turtles have sharper keels.
7. Most map turtle species live on eating mostly insects and larva.
8. Map turtles have powerful jaws to eat insects.
9. The species are excellent swimmers and can dive into deep water.
10. They are famous for communal basking.

Conclusion

Isn’t it fun to know interesting facts about your pet map turtle? There are many more facts about the species yet to reveal. Thank you for reading the article. I hope now you feel a deep bonding with your map turtle.