Biology:Texas map turtle
| Texas map turtle | |
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| A Texas map turtle in Kimble County, TX | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Genus: | Graptemys |
| Species: | G. versa
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| Binomial name | |
| Graptemys versa | |
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| Range map | |
| Synonyms | |
The Texas map turtle (Graptemys versa) is a species of emydid turtle endemic to Texas.
Geographic range
Endemic to Texas within the Colorado River (Texas) drainage
Description
Graptemys versa is a smaller turtle; females only attain a carapace length of 21.4 cm (8.4 in). Males are even smaller, only attaining a carapace length of 9.0 cm (3.5 in). When viewed dorsally, the carapace is oval-shaped with the widest part just above the rear legs. The posterior marginals are serrated and the carapacial scutes are convex. A medial keel is present on the vertebral scutes with the most prominent keels being located on the first three. The apex of these scutes are yellowish but often become worn down with age. The base coloration of the carapace is olive green with yellow reticulations. Juveniles and young adults often bear some slight pattern along the central seams of the plastral scutes. However, some adults have a creamy yellow plastron free of markings.
Diet
Map turtle researcher Peter Lindeman has documented the following dietary items from Texas map turtles: Freshwater sponges, algae, seeds, Asian clams, various aquatic insects, leeches, and crayfish.
References
- ↑ Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 190. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110501060224/http://www.cnah.org/pdf_files/851.pdf. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- ↑ 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.)
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.)
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q301714 entry
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