The Escambia map turtle (''Graptemys ernsti)'', also known
commonly as Ernst's map turtle, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
turtle
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked tu ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Emydidae
Emydidae (Latin ''emys'' (freshwater tortoise) + Ancient Greek εἶδος (''eîdos'', “appearance, resemblance”)) is a family of testudines (turtles) that includes close to 50 species in 10 genera. Members of this family are commonly calle ...
. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
Geographic range
''G. ernsti'' is found in southern
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
and western
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, in rivers which drain into
Escambia Bay
Escambia Bay is a bay located in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, in the far western Florida Panhandle. The city of Pensacola is located on the western side, and the town of Milton is located on the northeastern end of the two-pronged bay. ...
.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of ''G. ernsti'' is flowing fresh water, in medium to large creeks and rivers.
[
]
Etymology
The specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''ernsti'', is in honor of American herpetologist Dr. Carl Henry Ernst.[ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Graptemys ernsti'', p. 85).]
Description
Females of ''G. ernsti'' are larger than males. Females may attain a straight carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
length of , but males only grow to a straight carapace length of .[
]
Diet
The diet of ''G. ernsti'' varies according to age and gender. Males and juveniles prey
Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill the ...
predominately upon insects, but females prey almost entirely upon snails and clams, including the invasive species ''Corbicula fluminea
''Corbicula fluminea'' is a species of freshwater clam native to eastern Asia which has become a successful invasive species throughout North America, South America, and Europe. ''Corbicula fluminea'' is commonly known in the west as the Asian cl ...
.[
]
Reproduction
Males of ''G. ernsti'' reach sexual maturity at an age of 3–4 years, but females don't reach sexual maturity until an age of 14–19 years. Each sexually mature female lays an average of 4 clutches
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts). ...
a year, with an average clutch size of 7 eggs.[
]
References
Further reading
* Ennen JR, Godwin J, Lovich JE, Kreiser BR, Folt B, Hazzard S (2016). "Interdrainage Morphological and Genetic Differentiation in the Escambia Map Turtle, ''Graptemys ernsti'' ". ''Herpetological Conservation & Biology'' 11 (1): 122–131.
*Lovich JE, McCoy CJ (1992). "Review of the ''Graptemys pulchra'' Group (Reptilia: Testudines: Emydidae), with Descriptions of Two New Species". ''Annals of Carnegie Museum'' 61 (4): 293–315. ("''Grapemys ernsti'', new species", pp. 300–302, Figures 4–5).
External links
*Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996)
''Graptemys ernsti''
2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Retrieved 29 July 2007.
Graptemys
Reptiles of the United States
Reptiles described in 1992
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{turtle-stub