Description
Other Taxonomic Groupings - Three subspecies are known over this species' native range. Graptemys pseudogeographica pseudogeographica is found from from OH and MN, south to KY and TN. Graptemys pseudogeographica kohni occurs from TN and MO south to MS and TX (Ernst et al. 1994). These are frequently treated as full species (e.g. Ernst and Barbour 1989; Mitchell 1994). Both subspecies have been introduced to the the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but have not become established. A third subspecies, G. p. versa is found primarily in TX.
Potentially Misidentified Species - Graptemys geographica is considered native in only one Atlantic drainage, the Susquehanna, and is introduced in the Delaware and Hudson (Arndt and Potter 1973; Ernst et al. 1994).
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Chordata | Reptilia | Testudines | Emydidae | Graptemys |
Synonyms
Invasion History
Chesapeake Bay Status
| First Record | Population | Range | Introduction | Residency | Source Region | Native Region | Vectors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | Failed | Contracting | Introduced | Regular Resident | North America | North America | Fisheries(Fisheries Accidental) |
History of Spread
Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle) is native to the Mississippi Valley and Gulf drainages from ND-OH south to TX-AL (Ernst et al. 1993). Many species of freshwater turtles, including G. pseudogeographica, were once shipped to the Atlantic seaboard to supply the 'terrapin' trade, in the 19th and early 20th century, when turtles were regarded as a luxury food (Carr 1952; Arndt and Potter 1973). This may explain some of the early records of G. pseudogeographica. Juveniles of G. pseudogeographica were later taken and sold in the pet industry, though in smaller numbers than Trachemys scripta elegans (Red-Eared Slider). (Carr 1952). Large-scale sales of baby turtles ended in 1975 (Ernst et al. 1994); so future releases of G. pseudogeographica are likely to be rare. Graptemys pseudogeographica has been introduced outside its native range in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Missouri Basin and the Lower Colorado Basin) (Florida Caribbean Science Center 2001).
Chesapeake specimens seem to have been mostly isolated released individuals, with no evidence of breeding and few recent records (Gotte 1996). Individuals of two subspecies, G. p. kohnii and G. p. pseudogeographica have been introduced to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and are distinguished in the records below:
Lower Bay Drainages - A specimen of G. p. kohnii was found in Norfolk VA in 1993 (Mitchell 1994).
Potomac River - There is a 1901 record (G. p. kohnii) from Curtis Spring, Arlington, at a United States Department of Agriculture experimental farm (McDiarmid 1996) and a 1940 capture (G. p. pseudogeographica) near Theodore Roosevelt (Analostan) Island, Arlington (Fowler 1943; Schwartz and Dutcher 1961; Mitchell 1994).
Patuxent River -A single turtle (G. p. kohnii) was captured in the Patuxent River at Lower Marlboro MD, at 5 ppt salinity. The specimen had an attached barnacle (Schwartz and Dutcher 1961). In June 2010, an adult turtle and a nest of eggs were found at Lake Elkhorn, Columbia MD, in the Patuxent watershed. The turtle eggs and nest were removed (Carson 2010; USGS Nonidigenous Aquatic Species Program 2011).
Upper Bay and Tributaries - Juvenile (G. p. kohnii) specimens were found at Wagner's Pond, Glen Burnie MD (Upper Bay drainage) (Cooper 1961).
Susquehanna River - There is an undated skull (G. p. pseudogeographica) at the United States National Museum of Natural History labelled Carlisle PA; possibly a Baird specimen from the late 1800's (McDiarmid 1996).
History References - Arndt and Potter 1973; Carr 1952; Cooper 1961; Florida Caribbean Science Center 2001; Ernst et al. 1994; Fowler 1943; Gotte 1996; McDiarmid 1996; Mitchell 1994; Schwartz and Dutcher 1961
Invasion Comments
Native Region- The subspecies G. p. pseudogeographica is found in the northern part of the Mississippi Valley, while G. p. kohnii prevails in the Delta region, and G. p. versa inhabits central TX (Ernst et al. 1994). In many books and articles, these are treated as full species.
Ecology
Environmental Tolerances
| For Survival | For Reproduction | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Temperature (ºC) | 0.0 | |||
| Salinity (‰) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Oxygen | ||||
| pH | ||||
| Salinity Range | fresh-meso |
Age and Growth
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Typical Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Maximum Adult Size (mm) | ||
| Maximum Longevity (yrs) | ||
| Typical Longevity (yrs |
Reproduction
| Start | Peak | End | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive Season | |||
| Typical Number of Young Per Reproductive Event |
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| Sexuality Mode(s) | |||
| Mode(s) of Asexual Reproduction |
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| Fertilization Type(s) | |||
| More than One Reproduction Event per Year |
|||
| Reproductive Startegy | |||
| Egg/Seed Form |
Impacts
Economic Impacts in Chesapeake Bay
Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle) has not become established in Chesapeake Bay and has had no economic impacts there.
Economic Impacts Outside of Chesapeake Bay
Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle) is (or was) locally used as food in its native range. It was once extensively sold in the pet trade until 1975 (Carr 1952; Cooper 1961; Warwick et al. 1990).
Ecological Impacts on Chesapeake Native Species
Impacts of Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle) on native species are unlikely owing to the apparent absence of established populations.
Ecological Impacts on Other Chesapeake Non-Native Species
Impacts of Graptemys pseudogeographica (False Map Turtle) on exotic biota are unlikely, owing to the apparent absence of established populations.
References
Arndt, Rudolf G.; Potter, Wayne A. (1973) Population of the map turtle in the Delaware River., Journal of Herpetology 7: 373-375Carr, Archie (1952) Handbook of Turtles: The Turtles of the United States, Canada, and Baja California, , Ithaca, NY. Pp.
Carson, Larry (7/7/2010) Non-native turtle found as Maryland counts critters, Baltimore Sun None: None
Cooper, John E. (1961) Further notes on non-indigenous turtles in Maryland, Herpetologica 17: 209-210
Ditmars, Raymond L. (1936) The Reptiles of North America, , New York. Pp.
Ernst, Carl H.; Barbour, Roger W. (1989) Turtles of the World, , Washington, D.C.. Pp.
Ernst, Carl H.; Barbour, Roger W.; Lovich, Jeffrey E. (1994) Turtles of the United States and Canada, , Washington, DC. Pp.
1996 Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/
Fowler, J. A. (1943) Another False Map turtle from the District of Columbia vicinity, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 56: 168
Mansueti, Romeo, Wallace, David H. (1960) Notes on the soft-shell turtle (Trionyx) in Maryland waters, Chesapeake Science 1: 71-72
Mitchell, Joseph C. (1994) The Reptiles of Virginia., , Washington, D. C.. Pp.
Schwartz, Frank J.; Dutcher, Benjamin L. (1961) A record of the Mississippi map turtle, Graptemys kohni , in Maryland, Chesapeake Science 2: 100-101
Warwick, C.; Steedman, C.; Holford, T. (1990) Ecological implications of the red-eared turtle trade, Texas Journal of Science 42: 419-422