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Alabama Map Turtle (Graptemys pulchra)
Photograph by OpenCage. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
ALABAMA MAP TURTLE FACTS
DescriptionThe Alabama Map Turtle is a moderate-sized map turtle. The carapace is brown or dark olive with a series of concentric fine yellow markings on the dorsal scales. The back has a keel with prominent knobs. There is a black medial stripe down the carapace. The underside (plastron) is pale yellow, with darker marking round the edges. The skin is brown to olive with light yellow to yellow-green stripes and blotches. The head has a pattern like a mask, with a large blotch between the eyes joined to blotches behind the eyes. The neck stripes has fairly wide even sized stripes. Size length: males 9cm - 13cm; females 14cm - 29cm Environment large rivers with sandy or muddy bottoms, rocky streams. prefer areas with brush piles, tree branches or logs in the water for basking. Food crustaceans, insects, and some small fish Breeding The nesting season is from late April to August with the peak in June. Females lay six or seven clutches of four to six eggs each year. Range The Alabama Map Turtle is found in the Alabama, Tombigbee, Tensaw, Black Warrior and Coosa Rivers in Alabama, and the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers in Georgia. It is also found in streams, lakes and creeks near these rivers. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Barbour's Map Turtle (G. barbouri) Common Map Turtle (G. geographica) Mississippi Map Turtle (G. kohnii) Black knobbed Map Turtle (G. nigrinoda) False Map Turtle (G. pseudogeographica) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |