Yellow-blotched map turtle


The yellow-blotched map turtle, or yellow-blotched sawback, is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. It is part of the narrow-headed group of map turtles, and is endemic to the southern United States.

Conservation status

This species is listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act due to a recent decline. This can be attributed to a low reproductive frequency as compared with most other map turtles. A high level of nest mortality due to fish crow predation and river flooding are also attributed to endangerment. Unexpectedly high occurrences of nesting in shaded areas could possibly be attributed to human disturbances on and near sandbars, which raises mortality rates.
Also, its habitat suffers from pollution and agricultural changes to water levels, affecting nesting beaches. "Turtle plinking", shooting turtles for casual target practice, kills significant portions of this endangered turtle's population each year.

Geographic range

Its distribution is limited to the Pascagoula River of Mississippi and most of its tributaries.

Home range

Males have a mean home range area of 1.12 ha and a mean home range length of. Females have a mean home range area of 5.75 ha, due to nesting activities, and a mean home range length of.

Description

Yellow-blotched map turtles are medium- to small-sized turtles, with males ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 in in carapace length as adults. Adult females are larger, about 5 to 7.5 in in carapace length. The yellow-blotched map turtle has the highest central keel of all map turtles.

Diet

Yellow-blotched map turtles feed mostly on insects, but are opportunistic feeders, so also consume crustaceans, fish, and some fresh plant matter.