Barbour's map turtle


Barbour's map turtle is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States.

Geographic range

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

Etymology

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

Ownership

Owning Barbour's map turtles is illegal in Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama. The limit is two turtles per person in Florida. Like all map turtles, they are under the protection of the Salmonellosis Four-inch Regulation, disallowing these turtles to be sold if they are under the length of 4 in.

Description

Male Barbour's map turtles are on average 3.5 to 5.5 in in straight-line carapace length. Females can vary from 6 to 12.5 in in straight-line carapace length. "Females attain really imposing dimensions, and their heads are enormously enlarged". These turtles possess black-tipped spines on the second, third, and fourth vertebral scutes. These spines are very noticeable in males, and resemble a dorsal fin.

Diet

Barbour's map turtles mainly consume mollusks, insects, and small fish found in rivers.