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Escambia map turtle

{{Short description|Species of turtle}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Graptemys ernsti 18Jun09 EscambiaRiver 2z.JPG

| image_caption = Graptemys ernsti

| status = NT

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=van Dijk PP |author-link=species:Peter Paul van Dijk |title=Graptemys ernsti |page=e.T9500A97418010 |year=2011 |errata=2016 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013.RLTS.T9500A12997190.en |access-date=27 October 2022}}

| status2 = CITES_A2

| status2_system = CITES

| status2_ref = {{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2023-03-01|website=cites.org}}

| genus = Graptemys

| species = ernsti

| authority = Lovich & McCoy, 1992

| range_map = Graptemys ernsti map.png

| range_map_caption = Range map

| synonyms = *Graptemys ernsti
{{small|Lovich & McCoy, 1992}}

  • Graptemys emstii
    {{small|Ferri, 2002}}
    (ex errore)
  • Graptemys pulchra ernsti
    {{small|— Artner, 2003}}

| synonyms_ref = {{cite journal|journal=Vertebrate Zoology|title=Checklist of Chelonians of the World|year=2007|first=Uwe|last=Fritz|author-link=species:Uwe Fritz|author2=Havaš, Peter|author2-link=species:Peter Havaš|volume=57|issue=2|pages=149–368 |doi=10.3897/vz.57.e30895 |doi-access=free }}

}}

The Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti), also known commonly as Ernst's map turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the United States.

Geographic range

G. ernsti is found in southern Alabama and western Florida, in rivers which drain into Escambia Bay.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. ernsti is flowing fresh water, in medium to large creeks and rivers.

Etymology

The specific name, ernsti, is in honor of American herpetologist Dr. Carl Henry Ernst.{{EMBL species|genus=Graptemys|species=ernsti}} www.reptile-database.org.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Graptemys ernsti, p. 85).

Description

Females of G. ernsti are larger than males. Females may attain a straight carapace length of {{cvt|28.5|cm|in}}, but males only grow to a straight carapace length of {{cvt|13|cm|in}}.

Diet

The diet of G. ernsti varies according to age and gender. Males and juveniles prey predominately upon insects, but females prey almost entirely upon snails and clams, including the invasive species ''Corbicula fluminea.

Reproduction

Males of G. ernsti reach sexual maturity at an age of 3–4 years, but females don't reach sexual maturity until an age of 14–19 years. Each sexually mature female lays an average of 4 clutches a year, with an average clutch size of 7 eggs.

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Ennen JR, Godwin J, Lovich JE, Kreiser BR, Folt B, Hazzard S (2016). "Interdrainage Morphological and Genetic Differentiation in the Escambia Map Turtle, Graptemys ernsti ". Herpetological Conservation & Biology 11 (1): 122–131.
  • Lovich JE, McCoy CJ (1992). "Review of the Graptemys pulchra Group (Reptilia: Testudines: Emydidae), with Descriptions of Two New Species". Annals of Carnegie Museum 61 (4): 293–315. ("Grapemys ernsti, new species", pp. 300–302, Figures 4–5).

External links

  • Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/9500/all Graptemys ernsti]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140627094911/http://www.iucnredlist.org/ 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Retrieved 29 July 2007.

{{Emydidae}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q301647}}

Category:Graptemys

Category:Reptiles of the United States

Category:Reptiles described in 1992

Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

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