The Mississippi Map Turtle

Mississippi Map Turtle: (Graptemys kohni)

Description: Males, 3-4"; females, 4-71/2". Carapace olive to brown, with dark-brown keel and innterconnected pattern of circular markings. Plastron greenish-yellow with highly variable and intricate pattern of dark lines. Yellow crescent-shaped mark behind eyes prevents neck stripes from reaching eye. Round spot on chin. Conspicuous whit eye with black pupil. Male haas elongated claws on front feet.
Breeding: Habits poorly known. Nests in early June in Mississippi.
Habitat: Rivers, lakes, and sloughs with mud bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation and basking sites.
Range: W. Mississippi River basin from sw. Iowa to c. Illinois, south to the Gulf.
Facts: Although formerly sold as pets, they did not fair well in captivity. They are shy and difficult to approach when basking. They feed on insects, freshwater clams, snails, and aquatic plants. Recently recognized as a subspecies of False Map Turtle