Texas map turtle

The Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa) is a species of emydid turtle endemic to the southern United States. Texas map turtles are popular in the pet trade. However, they became more common because of captive breeding.

Texas map turtle
A Texas map turtle in Kimble County, TX
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Graptemys
Species:
G. versa
Binomial name
Graptemys versa
Range map
Synonyms
  • Graptemys pseudogeographica versa Stejneger, 1925
  • Graptemys versa — H.M. Smith, 1946
  • Malaclemys versa — McDowell, 1964[2]
  • Graptemys versa — Conant, 1975[3]

Geographic range

It is found in central Texas in the Colorado River (Texas) drainage on the Edwards Plateau.

Description

Graptemys versa is a smaller map turtle; females only attain a carapace length of 12.5 cm (5.0 in).[3] Males are even smaller, only attaining a carapace length of 9.0 cm (3.5 in).[4] The keel on this map turtle is not black, and a J-shaped head marking is seen.

Diet

They feed mainly on mollusks, insects, carrion, and vegetation.

References
  1. database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Graptemys&species=versa Graptemys versa, Reptile Database
  2. Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 190. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. Conant, R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition Houghton Mifflin. Boston. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Graptemys versa, p. 58 + Plate 8 + Map 21.)
  4. Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3. (Graptemys versa, pp. 50-51.)

Further reading
  • Stejneger, L. 1925. New species and subspecies of American turtles. Journ. Washington Acad. Sci. 15 (20): 462–463. ("Graptemys pseudogeographica versa, new subspecies", p. 463.)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.