Yellow-blotched map turtle
Yellow-blotched map turtle | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Emydidae |
Genus: | Graptemys |
Species: | G. flavimaculata
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Binomial name | |
Graptemys flavimaculata Cagle, 1954
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Synonyms | |
The yellow-blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata), or yellow-blotched sawback, is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. It is part of the narrow-headed group of map turtles, and is endemic to the southern United States.
Geographic range
Its distribution is limited to the Pascagoula River of Mississippi and most of its tributaries (a range it shares with the Pascagoula map turtle).
Home range
Males have a mean home range area of 1.12 ha (2.77 acres) and a mean home range length of 1.8 km (1.1 mi). Females have a mean home range area of 5.75 ha (14.20 acres), due to nesting activities, and a mean home range length of 1.5 km (0.93 mi).[6]
Description
Yellow-blotched map turtles are medium- to small-sized turtles, with males ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 in (9-11.5 cm) in carapace length as adults. Adult females are larger, about 5 to 7.5 in (13–19 cm) in carapace length. The yellow-blotched map turtle has the highest central keel of all map turtles.[citation needed]
Diet
Yellow-blotched map turtles feed mostly on
Conservation status
This species is listed as threatened under the
Also, its habitat suffers from pollution and agricultural changes to water levels, affecting nesting beaches. "Turtle plinking", shooting turtles for casual target practice, kills significant portions of this endangered turtle's population each year.[9]
Since yellow-blotched map turtles are freshwater turtles mainly found in the Pascagoula River of Mississippi, human disturbances like an increase in boats in the area of inhabitance, also leads to many physiological issues due to less time to bask or endangerment of the nest.[10]
As a member of the listed Graptemys genus, G. flavimaculata receives protection under Appendix III of the
References
- . Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Yellow-blotched map turtle (Graptemys flavimaculata)". Environmental Conservation Online System. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ^ 56 FR 1459
- .
- ISBN 0-395-19977-8(paperback). (Graptemys flavimaculata, p. 59 + Plate 8 + Map17.)
- JSTOR 1565175.
- S2CID 86331793.
- .
- ^ "Top 25 Turtles On Death Row" (PDF) (Press release). Turtle Conservation Fund. 15 May 2003.
- JSTOR 43188086.
- ^ "Appendices I, II and III". Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
Further reading
- Cagle, Fred R. (26 August 1954). "Two New Species of the Genus Graptemys" (PDF). Tulane Studies in Zoology. 1 (11): 165–186.
- ISBN 0-307-13666-3(paperback). (Grapemys flavimaculata, pp. 52–53.)