There are currently 14 species of map turtles, all found only in North America. Two species of map turtle are found in the secluded, slow moving backwaters of the Fox River; the northern map turtle Graptemys geographica, and the false map turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica. Superficially similar to others of their genus (sleek, cute and relatively small), map turtles move through an aquatic life with grace and leisure. 

Map turtles receive their name from the thin, yellow squiggly lines that cover their shell and resemble a topographic map.  Their carapace (top shell) has a cool, knobby ridge.  They have large yellow stripes and trendy swooshes on their necks.  They’re really pretty. 

One notable characteristic of the map turtles is their extreme sexual dimorphism in size. Girls are much bigger. A full grown male may be only half as long – and 1/10^th the body mass – of a mature female. This leads to a decidedly different diet between the sexes. The girls use their more muscular jaws to crush large mussel shells.  The boys eat smaller prey such as aquatic beetles and other macro-invertebrates.   

Map turtles typically forage for food during the cool summer mornings and devote their midday hours to lying on logs and soaking up rays with their fellow chelonians. 

Wary to the extreme, map turtles spook easily and dive off their solar energy platforms at the slightest disturbance. They’re usually the first turtle in the water.