
*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names:
Subspecies: Only the Mississippi Map Turtle, Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii, occurs within Louisiana.
Description:
Similar Species:
Species Range:
Louisiana Range: Much of central and northern Louisiana, and areas west of the Mississippi River in southern Louisiana, with few records east of the Mississippi River.
Habitat:
Natural History:
Best Time and Place to Observe:
Global Conservation Status: False Map Turtles are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G5 (Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None
Louisiana Conservation Status: False Map Turtles do not have any special status in Louisiana.
Author's Remarks: I have observed map turtles basking on logs in the range of this species, but cannot be sure if they were this species or Ouachita Map Turtles. The individual pictured from East Carroll Parish was brought to me during an outreach event that was caught that day from Lake Providence in 2016. We captured a couple of this species at a creek in Beauregard Parish in 2018. In 2019 through 2021 we saw these guys basking in several areas in south-central and southwestern Louisiana where we were doing turtle research.