Mississippi Map Turtle

The Mississippi Map Turtle has a dark gray to black body and a brown shell marked with fine lines and patterns that resemble the contours of a map. Like many turtle species, males and females differ noticeably in size. Males are usually much smaller, growing to around 3.5 to 5 inches long, while females can grow to 6 to 10 inches long. They also have clawed toes and a streamlined body well suited for aquatic life.

Mississippi Map Turtles live in freshwater wetlands, ponds, rivers, and slow- moving waterways. They are often found in areas with dense vegetation, where they can swim, bask, and find cover.

Mississippi Map Turtles are omnivores. Their diet includes insects, aquatic plants, and small vertebrates, depending on what is available in their environment.

Mississippi Map Turtles are usually solitary outside of the breeding season. Like many turtles, they come together mainly to mate, and females later lay eggs on land in suitable nesting areas. They can live 30 years or more.

The “Mississippi” in this turtle’s name refers not to the state, but to the Mississippi River Basin, where the species is naturally found. Its map-like shell pattern makes it one of the most visually distinctive freshwater turtles in North America.

Least Concern