Common Map Terrapin/Turtle Graptemys geographica

The Common Map Terrapin (called turtle in America), also called the Northern Map, is native to rivers, lakes and ponds of eastern North America, from southeast Canada around the Great Lakes and St Lawrence basin to Kansas and northern Georgia. In winter they hibernate underwater on the riverbeds, lake beds or pond mud.

Like all "map turtles", it is named after the fine circular markings like map contour lines on the young, markings which fade with age. The young also have a distinct central keel on the carapace which also lessens with age. The Common Map has a narrow yellow central line on its face and at least one yellow mark each side of its face disconnected to any lines.

Females can be nearly twice as large as males with a fully-grown carapace length of 7-10 inches (18-27 cm) to the males' 4-6.5 inches.