Reptiles of North Carolina
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NC Biodiversity Project
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Family (Alpha):
ALLIGATORIDAE
ANGUIDAE
ANOLIDAE
CHELONIIDAE
CHELYDRIDAE
COLUBRIDAE
DERMOCHELYIDAE
ELAPIDAE
EMYDIDAE
GEKKONIDAE
KINOSTERNIDAE
MISCELLANEOUS
PHRYNOSOMATIDAE
SCINCIDAE
TEIIDAE
TRIONYCHIDAE
VIPERIDAE
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Emydidae Members:
Chrysemys picta
Chrysemys picta picta
Clemmys guttata
Deirochelys reticularia
Glyptemys muhlenbergii
Graptemys geographica
Graptemys pseudogeographica
Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii
Malaclemys terrapin
Pseudemys concinna
Pseudemys concinna concinna
Pseudemys concinna floridana
Pseudemys rubriventris
Terrapene carolina
Trachemys scripta
Trachemys scripta elegans
Trachemys scripta scripta
Trachemys scripta troostii
NC
Records
Graptemys geographica
- Northern Map Turtle
No image for this species.
Taxonomy
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Testudines
Family:
Emydidae
Subfamily:
Deirochelyinae
Other Common Name(s):
Common Map Turtle
Taxonomic Comments:
One of fourteen species in this strictly North American genus (SSAR, 2016). Two species are now recorded in North Carolina.
Species Comments:
No subspecies are currently recognized for this species (SSAR, 2016)
Identification
Basis for Records:
For specimens found at Hiwassee Lake, a good quality photograph showing the head pattern and shape should be sufficient to identify this species. For individuals located well away from this area, specimens should be collected and sent to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences for determination.
Morphological Features:
The carapace has a low keel, with vertebral spines present in juveniles, low in males, and absent in females (Ernst and Lovich, 2009).
Technical Reference:
Ernst and Lovich (2009)
Field Guide Descriptions:
Beane et al. (2010); Powell et al. (2016)
Online Photos:
Google
iNaturalist
GBIF
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution Comments:
This species was only speculated to occur in North Carolina by Palmer and Braswell (1995). There are now several records for it, based on specimens deposited in the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, that confirm its presence. All are from Hiwassee Lake in Cherokee County on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line (Beane et al., 2010).
County Map:
Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat:
Common Map Turtles are inhabitants of large lakes, as well as rivers and larger streams with low rates of flow (Beane et al., 2010). In North Carolina, only water bodies in the Hiwassee drainage are inhabited.
Life History and Autecology
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank:
S1
Global Rank:
G5
Status in North Carolina:
SC
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