# False map turtle

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Species of turtle

False map turtle Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Family: Emydidae Genus: Graptemys Species: G. pseudogeographica Binomial name Graptemys pseudogeographica (Gray, 1831) Subspecies G. p. pseudogeographica (Gray, 1831), false map turtle G. p. kohnii (Baur, 1890), Mississippi map turtle[2] Range map Synonyms List Emys pseudogeographica Gray, 1831 Emys lesueurii Gray, 1831 Graptemys lesueurii — Agassiz, 1857 Clemmys pseudogeographica — Strauch, 1862 Graptemys pseudogeographica — Gray, 1863 Malacoclemmys pseudogeographicus — Cope, 1875 Malacoclemmys lesueuri Yarrow, 1883 (ex errore) Malacoclemmys pseudographicus [N.S.] Davis & [F.L.] Rice, 1883 (ex errore) Malacoclemmys lesueurii — Boulenger, 1889 Malaclemys pseudogeographica — O.P. Hay, 1892 Malaclemys pseudogeographicus — Paulmier, 1902 Graptemys pseudogeographicus — Siebenrock, 1909 Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica — Stejneger & Barbour, 1917 Malaclemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica — Cochran & Goin, 1970 Graptemys pseudogeoraphica Anan'eva et al., 1988 (ex errore)[3] Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica — Crother, 2000[2]

The **false map turtle** (***Graptemys pseudogeographica***) is a [species](/source/Species) of [turtle](/source/Turtle) [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the [United States](/source/United_States). It is a common pet species. Two [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are recognized, including the [nominotypical subspecies](/source/Nominotypical_subspecies) described here.

## Subspecies

- [Nominotypical subspecies](/source/Nominotypical_subspecies): *G. p. pseudogeographica* ([Gray](/source/John_Edward_Gray), 1831) – False map turtle

- *[G. p. kohnii](/source/Graptemys_pseudogeographica_kohnii)* ([Baur](/source/Georg_Baur), 1890) – Kohn's map turtle,[4] Mississippi map turtle[2]

## Distribution

The false map turtle lives in large streams of the [Missouri](/source/Missouri_River) and [Mississippi River](/source/Mississippi_River) systems, ranging from [Ohio](/source/Ohio), [Indiana](/source/Indiana), [Illinois](/source/Illinois), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota), through the Dakotas southward to southwestern [Alabama](/source/Alabama), southern and western [Mississippi](/source/Mississippi), and [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana). The false map turtle also lives in several other river systems of [Southwest Louisiana](/source/Southwest_Louisiana) and [East Texas](/source/East_Texas).

## Description

Also known as a "sawback" turtle, the turtle has a [carapace](/source/Turtle_shell#Carapace) featuring a vertebral row of low spines, and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive to brown in color with light yellowish markings with dark borders, often with a dark mark on each [scute](/source/Scute).[5] The [plastron](/source/Plastron) color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines along the seams in juveniles. The body color of the false map turtle is grayish brown to blackish and is marked with light brown, yellow, or whitish stripes. The eye can be brown, light yellow, white, or green and is crossed with a dark bar. There can be a distinct "L" mark just behind each eye.[5] Narrow hooked marks behind the eye fuse with dorsal lines on the head and neck. Also, small light-colored spots occur below the eye and on the chin.

		- Dorsal view, showing bright "L" above eyes

		- Juvenile

## Conservation status

In the [Midwest](/source/Midwest), the false map turtle is a species of special interest in Ohio, and is threatened in South Dakota.[5]

## Behavior

Map turtles of all kinds are avid baskers, spending many hours during the day in the sun. When with other turtles, they also are very communal, sharing space and using each other for predator-watching, increasing the odds of surviving an attack.

## Ecology

The false map turtle is a strong swimmer and prefers rivers and large [creeks](/source/Stream) with moderate currents, containing aquatic vegetation, as well as [snags](/source/Snag_(ecology)) or floating logs. They are also comfortable in deep and swift water. The turtles are present in [oxbow lakes](/source/Oxbow_lake) and [sloughs](/source/Slough_(hydrology)), but are absent from [lakes](/source/Lake), [ponds](/source/Pond), or small streams. Basking is important to these turtles, and they may even be found on steep, slippery snags.

## Threats and management issues

A variety of threats face this species, including the destruction of nests of [eggs](/source/Egg_(biology)) by animals and [insects](/source/Insect), falling victim to gill nets, and being shot. False map turtles, much like [red-eared sliders](/source/Red-eared_slider) *(Trachemys scripta elegans)*, have also been collected for the pet trade.

## Gallery

		- Clutch preparation of a breeding false map turtle on a meadow

		- Same turtle during oviposition

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Graptemys pseudogeographica](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Graptemys_pseudogeographica).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0)** [van Dijk, P.P.](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Peter_Paul_van_Dijk) (2016) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. ["*Graptemys pseudogeographica*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165600/97424024). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2011** e.T165600A97424024. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T165600A6066439.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T165600A6066439.en). Retrieved 27 October 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-RDB_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-RDB_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-RDB_2-2) [*Graptemys pseudogeographica*](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Graptemys&species=pseudogeographica), Reptile Database

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fritz2007_3-0)** [Fritz, Uwe](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Uwe_Fritz); [Havaš, Peter](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Peter_Hava%C5%A1) (2007). ["Checklist of Chelonians of the World"](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fvz.57.e30895). *Vertebrate Zoology*. **57** (2): 189. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/vz.57.e30895](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fvz.57.e30895). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [87809001](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:87809001).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Beolens B](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Bo_Beolens), [Watkins M](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Michael_Watkins), [Grayson M](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Michael_Grayson) (2011). *The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles*. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4214-0135-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4214-0135-5). (Kohn's Map Turtle *Graptemys kohnii*, p. 145).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-SDAR_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-SDAR_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-SDAR_5-2) ["False Map Turtle"](https://www.sdherps.org/species/graptemys_pseudogeographica). Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota. Retrieved 16 August 2025.

## Further reading

- [Conant, R.](/source/Roger_Conant_(herpetologist)) (1975). *A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition.* Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-395-19979-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-395-19979-4) (hardcover), [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-395-19977-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-395-19977-8) (paperback). (*Graptemys pseudogeographica*, pp. 57–58 + Plate 8 + Map 14).

- [Ernst, C.H.](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Carl_H._Ernst), [J.E. Lovich](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_E._Lovich) and [R.W. Barbour](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Roger_W._Barbour) (1994). *Turtles of the United States and Canada*. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution Press. 578 pp.

- [Gray, J.E.](/source/John_Edward_Gray) (1831). *Synopsis Reptilium; or Short Descriptions of the Species of Reptiles. Part I.—Cataphracta. Tortoises, Crocodiles, and Enaliosaurians.* London: Treuttel, Wurz, and Co. viii + 85 pp. + 11 plates. (*Emys pseudogeographica*, p. 31).

- [Smith, H.M.](/source/Hobart_Muir_Smith), and E.D. Brodie Jr. (1982). *Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification.* New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-307-13666-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-307-13666-3) (paperback). (*Graptemys pseudogeographica*, pp. 50–51).

## External links

- [*Graptemys pseudogeographica*](http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/collections/herps/data/ilspecies/gr_pseudog/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160918091705/http://wwx.inhs.illinois.edu/collections/herps/data/ilspecies/gr_pseudog) 18 September 2016 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Illinois Natural History Survey

- [False Map Turtle](https://www.iowaherps.com/species/graptemys_pseudogeographica), Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa

- [*Graptemys pseudogeographica*](http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Graptemys&species=pseudogeographica), The Reptile Database

v t e Emydidae family Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Superfamily: Testudinoidea Family: Emydidae Genera Species of the Emydidae family Chrysemys Painted turtle Clemmys Spotted turtle Deirochelys Chicken turtle Actinemys Western pond turtle Southwestern pond turtle Emys European pond turtle Sicilian pond turtle Emydoidea Blanding's turtle Glyptemys Bog turtle Wood turtle Graptemys Alabama map turtle Barbour's map turtle Black-knobbed map turtle Cagle's map turtle Escambia map turtle False map turtle Mississippi map turtle Northern map turtle Ouachita map turtle Pascagoula map turtle Pearl River map turtle Ringed map turtle Texas map turtle Yellow-blotched map turtle Malaclemys Diamondback terrapin Pseudemys Alabama red-bellied cooter Northern red-bellied cooter Florida red-bellied cooter Peninsula cooter Rio Grande cooter River cooter (subspecies Eastern river cooter Coastal plain cooter Suwannee cooter) Texas river cooter Terrapene Coahuilan box turtle Common box turtle Ornate box turtle Spotted box turtle Trachemys Atrato slider Big Bend slider Baja California slider Central Antillean slider Colombian slider Cuatro Cienegas slider Cuban slider D'Orbigny's slider Hispaniolan slider Jamaican slider Maranhão slider Meso-American slider Nicaraguan slider Ornate slider Pond slider Yaqui slider †Wilburemys †Wilburemys yakimensis Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on turtles of the world 2017 update: Annotated checklist and atlas of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution, and conservation status. Key: †=extinct.

v t e Testudines Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Clade: Diapsida Order: Testudines Suborder Superfamily Family Genus Cryptodira Chelonioidea (Sea turtles) Cheloniidae †Allopleuron Caretta †Carolinochelys Chelonia †Eochelone Eretmochelys †Gigantatypus †Glarichelys †Itilochelys Lepidochelys †Mexichelys †Miocaretta Natator †Pacifichelys †Syllomus †Tasbacka Dermochelyidae †Arabemys †Corsochelys †Cosmochelys Dermochelys †Eosphargis †Gigantochelys †Mesodermochelys †Psephophorus †Euclastes †Peritresius †Procolpochelys †Protosphargis †Puppigerus Kinosternoidea Dermatemydidae Dermatemys Kinosternidae Claudius †Hoplochelys Kinosternon Staurotypus Sternotherus Testudinoidea Emydidae †Acherontemys Chrysemys Clemmys Deirochelys Emys Actinemys Emydoidea Glyptemys Graptemys Malaclemys Pseudemys Terrapene Trachemys †Wilburemys Geoemydidae Batagur †Banhxeochelys Cuora Cyclemys Geoclemys Geoemyda Hardella Heosemys Leucocephalon Malayemys Mauremys Melanochelys Morenia Notochelys Orlitia Pangshura Rhinoclemmys Sacalia Siebenrockiella Vijayachelys Platysternidae Platysternon Testudinidae Aldabrachelys Astrochelys Centrochelys Chelonoidis Chersina Cylindraspis †Cymatholcus †Floridemys Geochelone Gopherus †Hadrianus †Hesperotestudo Homopus Indotestudo Kinixys Malacochersus Manouria †Megalochelys †Oligopherus Psammobates Pyxis †Solitudo Stigmochelys †Stylemys Testudo Trionychia Carettochelyidae †Allaeochelys †Anosteira Carettochelys Trionychidae Amyda Apalone †Axestemys Chitra Cyclanorbis Cycloderma †Drazinderetes Dogania †Gilmoremys †Hutchemys †Khunnuchelys Lissemys Nilssonia Palea †Palaeoamyda Pelochelys Pelodiscus Rafetus Trionyx †Basilochelys †Sinaspideretes Chelydridae Chelydra †Chelydrops †Chelydropsis †Emarginachelys †Macrocephalochelys Macrochelys †Planiplastron †Protochelydra †Nanhsiungchelyidae †Anomalochelys †Basilemys †Jiangxichelys †Protostegidae †Alienochelys †Archelon †Atlantochelys †Bouliachelys †Calcarichelys †Cratochelone †Desmatochelys †Iserosaurus †Notochelone †Ocepechelon †Pneumatoarthrus †Protostega †Rhinochelys †Santanachelys †Terlinguachelys †Adocus †Argillochelys †Bashuchelys †Ctenochelys †Prionochelys †Toxochelys Pleurodira †Araripemydidae †Araripemys †Bothremydidae †Araiochelys †Arenila †Azabbaremys †Bothremys †Cearachelys †Chedighaii †Chupacabrachelys †Eotaphrosphys †Foxemys †Galianemys †Ilatardia †Inaechelys †Itapecuruemys †Jainemys †Kinkonychelys †Kurmademys †Labrostochelys †Nigeremys †Phosphatochelys †Polysternon †Puentemys †Rosasia †Rhothonemys †Sankuchemys †Taphrosphys †Ummulisani †Zolhafah Chelidae Acanthochelys Chelodina Chelus Elseya Elusor Emydura Hydromedusa †Lomalatachelys Mesoclemmys Myuchelys Phrynops Platemys †Prochelidella Pseudemydura Rheodytes Rhinemys †Yaminuechelys Pelomedusidae Pelomedusa Pelusios Podocnemididae †Albertwoodemys †Bauruemys †Brontochelys †Caninemys †Carbonemys †Cerrejonemys †Cordichelys Erymnochelys †Lapparentemys †Latentemys Peltocephalus Podocnemis †Stupendemys †Sahonachelyidae †Sahonachelys †Sokatra †Caribemys †Caririemys †Tacuarembemys Phylogenetic arrangement of turtles based on Turtles of the World 2017 Update: Annotated Checklist and Atlas of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution, and Conservation Status. † = extinct. See also List of Testudines families

Taxon identifiers Graptemys pseudogeographica Wikidata: Q1078899 Wikispecies: Graptemys pseudogeographica ADW: Graptemys_pseudogeographica CoL: 6KT7C EoL: 456492 GBIF: 2443091 iNaturalist: 39847 IRMNG: 10354242 ITIS: 173800 IUCN: 165600 NAS: 1243 NatureServe: 2.104427 NCBI: 33571 Observation.org: 16694 Open Tree of Life: 1092200 RD: pseudogeographica Species+: 3199 WoRMS: 1463697

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [False map turtle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_map_turtle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_map_turtle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.