The Ouachita map turtle (''Graptemys ouachitensis'') 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 ...

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 t ...

belonging to the family Emydidae.

Subspecies

Subspecies include: * ''Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis'' Cagle, 1953 * ''Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis'' Cagle, 1953 In recent years the Sabine map turtle (''Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis'') has been recognized by many as a full species Sabine map turtle (''Graptemys sabinensis'').

Distribution

This 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 else ...

to the United States. It can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky. ''G. o. sabinensis'' exists only in the Sabine River of Louisiana and Texas. Both ''G. o. ouachitensis'' and ''G. o. sabinensis'' are freshwater riverine turtles. The ''G. o. ouachitensis'' is rarely seen on land unless it is nesting season or it is basking.

Description

This species' carapace features a row of low vertebral spines, and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive, dark brown, or black in coloration with light yellowish markings with dark borders. The plastron color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines and swirls. The body color is grayish brown to blackish and is marked with yellowish stripes. On the head, it has light yellow spots: a rectangular one behind each eye, an oval under each eye, and a round one on each side of the jaw. In some specimens, the spot behind and the spot under the eye can combine to form a single thick "C" stain. The eye has a black stripe in the middle. Males are significantly smaller than females. The males can grow to be as large as 5 in (12 cm) in carapace length. The females can grow to be up to 10 in (25 cm) in carapace length.

Natural History

Hatchlings of this species have recently been found to make sounds prior to exiting the nest. These are mostly "clicking" noises, but more tonal "mewing" sounds are also sometimes present. These sounds are the first documented for any North American hatchling turtle. (Geller, G.A. and G.S. Casper. 2019. Late-term embryos and hatchlings of Ouachita Map Turtles (''Graptemys ouachitensis'') make sounds within the nest. Herpetological Review 50:449-452)

Diet

Ouachita map turtles feed mainly on small aquatic animals such as shrimp,

insects Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs of j ...

molluscs Mollusca is the second-largest phylum of invertebrate animals after the Arthropoda, the members of which are known as molluscs or mollusks (). Around 85,000 extant species of molluscs are recognized. The number of fossil species is estim ...

, and

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of ...

. They also consume algae and aquatic plants.

Pet trade

As they are small, Ouachita map turtles are common among turtle keepers. They can be kept with most other species and can be raised on specialty pellets and dried shrimp. Although they need heat and ultraviolet light (

UVB Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelength from 10 nm (with a corresponding frequency around 30 PHz) to 400 nm (750 THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation i ...

Gallery

File:Emydidae - Graptemys ouachitensis.jpg, Juvenile ''Graptemys ouachitensis''. Close-up File:Ouachita Map Turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) (40582536730).jpg, A specimen from Missouri File:Graptemys ouachitensis map.png, Range map of the Ouachita map turtle File:Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis) Orange Co. Texas. photo W. L. Farr.jpg, Sabine map turtle (''Graptemys sabinensis'') Orange Co. Texas.