Common name: False Map Turtle

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Native Range: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas north along the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio river drainages to North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Isolated populations occur in central Ohio and northern Indiana (Ernst et al., 1994; Conant and Collins, 1998).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: Pet releases.

Status: Reported in Virginia.

Impact of Introduction: Negligible since the species is not established in Virginia (Mitchell, 1994; Ernst et al., 1997). Because G. pseudographica is omnivorous, eating mollusks, insects, crayfish, aquatic plants and more, an established population could influence the food web (Ernst et al., 1994).

Remarks: Habitat: Large rivers and backwaters, but also lakes, ponds and other wetlands (Ernst et al., 1994). Life History: Two to three clutches containing 2 to 22 eggs are laid from May to July. Females usually excavate nests in the morning or on overcast days on banks or beaches (Ernst et al., 1994).

Scientific and standard English names follow Crother (2008).

References: (click for full references)

Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians. Eastern and Central North America. Third Edition, Expanded. Houghton and Mifflin Co. Boston.

Crother, B.I. (chair). Committee on Standard and English and Scientific Names. 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Society for the Study of Amphibians and  Reptiles Herpetological Circular. No. 37. iii + 86p.

Ernst, C. H., J. E. Lovich, and R. W. Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2009. FWC Exotics Database.

Mitchell, J. C. 1994. The reptiles of Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washingon, D. C.

Author: McKercher, E.

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.