Northern Map Turtle

Photo Credit: A.B. Sheldon

Family: Emydidae (Box and water turtles)
Status: Common
Size: carapace: females 6.5 to 10.5 inches, males 4 to 6.25 inches

The aquatic northern map turtle has a low dorsal keel and an olive-brown carapace that is patterned with fine yellow lines resembling a road map. Its head and neck are olive-brown with thin yellow lines running from the head onto the neck, and there is a pronounced yellow spot behind each eye. The back edge of the shell is modestly serrated. Adult males are significantly smaller than females.

Species range (darker) in Wisconsin

Northern map turtles can be distinguished from false and southern map turtles by their uniformly-colored yellow or creamy plastron. They prefer habitats with slow to moderate currents, soft bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation, such as side channels, backwaters, and some rivers and reservoirs. Their diet includes insect larvae, carrion, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Females have large broad heads and jaws adapted for cracking mollusk and crayfish shells.