"Geographic Map" Turtle - Graptemys kohni

Classification

Class: Reptilia (Reptiles)
SubClass: Anapsida
Order: Testudines
SubOrder: Cryptodira
SuperFamilia: Testudinoidea
Familia: Emydidae
Genus: Graptemys
Species: Graptemys pseudogeographica


Brief Description
They come from the United States, mainly from the Southern states.

They are extremely delicate turtles. Any mistake in their care can lead to a rapid death.

They are freshwater turtles. They have a dark brown carapax, with a crest on the medial line. They have abstract but symmetric lines on the bottom plate. Thence, the name of "geographic map" turtles.

Their eyes are perfectly round.
Adult males can reach 9 to 13 centimeters. Females reach 15 to 25 centimeters.

Female turtles lay, from May to July on sandy banks and shores, up to 15 ellipsoidal eggs (major diameter: 30 millimeters). At 25 Celsius degrees (77 Fahrenheit), they open in about 86 days.

Characters
They are very shy creatures. When they see dangers, they dive into water, to hide and to run for cover.

If they are kept in captivity, the aquarium should be disturbed as little as possible. They eat only in the water.

It would be ideal to cover the aquarium, at least in part.

Life in nature
They live in the slow, calm waters of lakes and ponds, with abundant vegetation. They love swimming under water and hiding in the vegetation.

They seldom take the risk of sunbathing.

They are very sensitive to dirty water. They tend to suffer for eye infections.

Their diet is made up ofg insects, muscles, dead fish.

Graptemys turtles are active at a temperature between 10 and 27 Celsius degress (50 and 99 Fahrenheit). Below 10 Celsius degrees, they go into hibernation, under water, hidden in the mud.

Legislation
The importation of the Graptemys kohni to Europe is, at the moment, legal.

They are very shy animals. They do not bear captivity. However, for their care in captivity you can still read the vademecums.