Barbour's map turtle (Graptemys barbouri) is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is native to the southeastern United States.

Barbour's map turtle
Graptemys barbouri, hatchling
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Graptemys
Species:
G. barbouri
Binomial name
Graptemys barbouri
Range map
Synonyms
  • Graptemys barbouri
    Carr & Marchand, 1942
  • Malaclemys barbouri
    McDowell, 1964[3]
  • Graptemys barbouri
    Conant, 1975[4]

Geographic range

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G. barbouri is found in rivers located in southeastern Alabama, the western panhandle of Florida, and southwestern Georgia.[4]

Etymology

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The specific name or epithet, barbouri, is in honor of American herpetologist Thomas Barbour.[5][6]

Ownership

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Owning Barbour's map turtle is illegal in Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama. The limit is two turtles per person in Florida. Like all map turtles, it is under the protection of the Salmonellosis Four-inch Regulation, disallowing G. barbouri to be sold if it is under the length of 4 in (10 cm).

Description

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Adult male Barbour's map turtles are on average 3.5 to 5.5 in (8.9 to 14.0 cm) in straight-line carapace length. Adult females are much larger and can vary from 6 to 12.5 in (15 to 32 cm) in straight-line carapace length. "Females attain really imposing dimensions, and their heads are enormously enlarged".[4] G. barbouri possesses black-tipped spines on the second, third, and fourth vertebral scutes. These spines are very noticeable in males, and resemble a dorsal fin.

Diet

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Barbour's map turtle mainly consumes mollusks, insects, and small fish found in rivers.

References

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  1. ^ van Dijk, P.P. (2016) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Graptemys barbouri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T9496A97417240. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013.RLTS.T9496A12995762.en. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 186. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895.
  4. ^ a b c Conant, Roger (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Graptemys barbouri, p. 55 + Plates 5, 8 + Map 18).
  5. ^ Beltz, Ellin (2006). Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America – Explained. ebeltz.net/herps/biogappx.html.
  6. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Graptemys barbouri, p. 16).

Further reading

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  • Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp., 657 plates. ISBN 0-394-50824-6. (Graptemys barbouri, pp. 458–459 + Plate 283).
  • Carr A, Marchand LJ (1942). "A new turtle from the Chipola River, Florida". Proc. New England Zool. Club 20: 95–100. (Graptemys barbouri, new species).
  • Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Graptemys barbouri, pp. 202–203 + Plates 16, 21 + Figures 82, 92 + photo on page x).
  • Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Graptemys barbouri, pp. 52–53).
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  • Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources [1].