Texas map turtle
{{Short description|Species of turtle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Graptemys versa, Kimble County, Texas.jpg
| image_caption = A Texas map turtle in Kimble County, TX
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| genus = Graptemys
| species = versa
| authority = Stejneger, 1925[http://reptile- database.reptarium.cz/species.php?genus=Graptemys&species=versa Graptemys versa]{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}, Reptile Database
| range_map = Graptemys versa map.png
| range_map_caption = Range map
| synonyms =
- Graptemys pseudogeographica versa Stejneger, 1925
- Graptemys versa — H.M. Smith, 1946
- Malaclemys versa — McDowell, 1964{{Cite journal | journal = Vertebrate Zoology | title = Checklist of Chelonians of the World | date = 2007 | author = Fritz, Uwe | author2 = Peter Havaš | volume = 57 | issue = 2 | pages = 190 | doi = 10.3897/vz.57.e30895 | doi-access = free }}
- Graptemys versa — Conant, 1975Conant, 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.)
}}
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
{{Reflist}}
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
{{commonscat|Graptemys versa}}
- [http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/cs-texmap.htm Austin's Turtle Page]
- [https://www.texasturtles.org/ Texas Turtles]
- [https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39845-Graptemys-versa iNaturalist]
{{Emydidae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q301714}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Texas Map Turtle}}