Species Reptiles & AmphibiansFalse Map Turtle

False Map Turtle

Graptemys pseudogeographica

CommonReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)

The False Map Turtle is a medium-sized basking turtle of the Mississippi River system. It basks in large groups on logs. Males are much smaller than females, which have expanded heads for crushing mollusks.

Habitat
Large rivers and their backwaters in the Mississippi drainage
Diet
Mollusks, crayfish, and aquatic insects (females); insects (males)
How common
Common

Best time to see a False Map Turtle

The best time to see a False Map Turtle is March–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,279 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent False Map Turtle sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

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