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Contact information: For information on Wisconsin's rare vertebrate animals, contact:; Rich Staffen
Conservation Biologist
608-266-4340; For information on Wisconsin's rare invertebrates, contact:; Jay Watson
Conservation Biologist
920-662-5161

False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)

False Map Turtle photo.
Photo © A.B. Sheldon

Overview

False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) prefers large rivers with sand, gravel and coble substrates. They overwinter in deeper water behind structures that create an immediate downstream eddy where they singly or communally sit up on top of the substrate, which is almost always sand. False maps are active from April through mid-October, breed in spring or fall and nest in late May through early July and may double clutch during this period. Eggs hatch from early August to early September but can overwinter in nests. This species is not actively tracked in the Natural Heritage Inventory Database, but it could be tracked in the future if there is further evidence of its decline.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - both state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where occurrences of this species meet NHI data standards and is not meant as a comprehensive map of all observations.

Note: Species recently added to the NHI Working List may temporarily have blank occurrence maps.

Graptemys pseudogeographica is not tracked by the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program at this time (this species is not on the NHI Working List).

Summary Information
State Status	none
Federal Status in Wisconsin	none
State Rank	S3?
Global Rank	G5
Tracked by NHI	W
WWAP	m-SIN

Species guidance

A guidance document is not available at this time. Use the information from the other tabs and contact local biologists, as needed, to develop management and avoidance strategies.