False Map Terrapin/Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica

The False Map Terrapin (called turtle in America) is native to the Mississippi River regions and its tributaries as far north as Illinois (the Mississippi Map Terrapin subspecies) and to the Missouri and tributaries through to Lousiana and east Texas.

Above left/centre is the nominal subspecies: False Map Turtle (G. p. pseudogeographica). A well-marked specimen has two yellow "hockey stick" marks on top of the head, giving just a yellow bar above the eye. The subspecies: Mississippi Map Turtle (G. p. kohni), above right, has a full yellow crescent encircling behind the eye and no hockey sticks.

The subspecies Mississippi Map Turtle (G. p. kohni), above, is treated as a full species (G. kohni) by some. Its head and visible body/legs have narrow yellow stripes on a black background. The face may have some yellow spots. Some of the yellow stripes can have a touch of red/pink. Its pupils are usually round but can be slightly barred. The carapace has a distinct keel.

A juvenile Mississippi Map Terrapin (G. p. kohni) - the scales on its carapace (shell) look as if they haven't completely fused yet? The carapace has 3 small spines and is serrated at the back.

The yellow spotted and striped terrapin practising swimming out of water on top of the Yellow-bellied Slider is believed to be a Mississippi Map Terrapin. It shows the spots on the face/neck.