Ringed map turtle

Ringed map turtle
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Graptemys
Species:	G. oculifera
Binomial name
Graptemys oculifera (Baur, 1890)
Range map
Synonyms
Malacoclemmys oculifera Baur, 1890 Graptemys oculifera — Baur, 1893 Malaclemys lesueurii oculifera — Siebenrock, 1909 Graptemys pseudogeographica oculifera — Stejneger & Barbour, 1917 Graptemys oculifera oculifera — Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Malaclemys oculifera — McDowell, 1964 Malaclemys oculifer — Cochran & Goin, 1970 Graptemys ocalifera Nutaphand, 1979 (ex errore) Graptemys oculifera — H.M. Smith & Brodie, 1982

The ringed map turtle or ringed sawback (Graptemys oculifera) is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae endemic to the southern United States.

Geographic range

It is frequently found in the Pearl River system in Louisiana and Mississippi. It shares this range with the Pearl River map turtle (G. pearlensis).

Description

Male turtles may attain a carapace length of 10 cm (4 in). Females are larger, and may attain a carapace length of 22 cm (8.5 in). On the carapace are light-colored rings, which are thicker than the rings on Graptemys nigrinoda.

Further reading

• Baur, G. 1890. Two New Species of Tortoises from the South. Science 16 (405): 262–263. (Malacoclemmys oculifera)
• Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996. Graptemys oculifera. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 July 2007. Taxidermists also play a big role in the way these turtles act.