Harvey County Parks

3 hours ago

Critter of the Week:

Ouachita map turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis

The Ouachita map turtle is a distinctively marked, medium to large sized turtle. Females can grow up to 10 inches in Kansas. This type of map turtle is sometimes referred to as a saw back, because of the points on its back. The carapace is dark brown to olive with yellow lined markings and dark borders on the sides. There is a keeled ridge down the middle of the carapace with prominent black knobs, and serrated edges are at the back of the carapace. Like other map turtles, the males are much smaller than the females. The head is narrow with a nose that does not protrude from the head. The plastron is usually unmarked and a cream to light yellow color. The head, limbs and tail are dark brown or olive with yellow stripes. Stripes on the neck are sometimes orange. This species prefers rivers and large creeks with a moderate current.
The genus Graptemys (includes all map turtles), is endemic to North America. Each species has its own distribution, and some populations overlap. It is common to find false and Ouachita map turtles in Harvey County, KS. In a few eastern Kansas counties, you might see the Northern map turtle. Markings on these turtles are unique, and can be used to tell each species apart. The Ouachita map turtle can be identified by the three yellow spots on its head. One spot is behind the eye, one below the eye, and one on the lower jaw. In northern populations the first and second spots may be enlarged to form a crescent (crescent is wider than that of the false map turtle). The size of each species range is variable. Some live across thousands of square miles and others live in only one small region. These turtles rarely travel overland. The southeastern part of the United States is recognized as one of the two areas of greatest turtle diversity globally (the other is the Ganges-Brahmaputra River basin in eastern India and Bangladesh). This is in part due to the high diversity of map turtles. Researchers recognize 14 separate species of map turtle. When the weather is warm, you can observe these turtles basking in the sun. Binoculars help in identifying the different species. A good place to observe different species of map turtle year round, is at the Sedgwick County Zoo.
The Ouachita map turtle can be found from Texas to Louisiana, north to eastern Kansas and Kentucky, throughout central Missouri and north along the Mississippi River to Southern Wisconsin and northern Iowa. They can be found east on the Ohio River to eastern Indiana. The species is found throughout the Midwest, except in Michigan and Minnesota.
Ouachita map turtles are good swimmer and are commonly seen in rivers and creeks. They are comfortable in deep and fast moving water, and may be found in oxbow lakes and sloughs. Usually, they are not seen in smaller lakes and ponds. They prefer areas with aquatic vegetation, and snags or floating logs. Basking and hiding spots are important to this species. These turtles are omnivores. Their prey may include: freshwater mussels, crayfish, insects, snails, fish, carrion, and assorted vegetation. After mating, a female will find a sandy area near water, dig a hole and lay her eggs. These eggs may take 2-3 months to hatch. After emerging, the young turtles make their way to water without parental care. It takes several years before they reach sexual maturity and are able to reproduce. During the winter months, these reptiles will go into a dormancy state. Their heart rate will slow and they can overwinter beneath a submerged log or other object. ... See moreSee less