Ouachita Map Turtle
Graptemys ouachitensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyEmydidae (Pond and Box Turtles)
- GenusGraptemys (Map Turtles)
- SpeciesGraptemys ouachitensis (Ouachita Map Turtle)
About the Ouachita Map Turtle
The Ouachita map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis) is a species of turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. Subspecies include: Graptemys ouachitensis ouachitensis Cagle, 1953 Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis Cagle, 1953 In recent years the Sabine map turtle (Graptemys ouachitensis sabinensis) has been recognized by many as a full species Sabine map turtle (Graptemys sabinensis).
This species is endemic to the United States. It can be found in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky. G. o. sabinensis exists only in the Sabine River of Louisiana and Texas. Both G. o. ouachitensis and G. o. sabinensis are freshwater riverine turtles. The G. o. ouachitensis is rarely seen on land unless it is nesting season or it is basking.
This species' carapace features a row of low vertebral spines, and is serrated on the posterior rim. The carapace is olive, dark brown, or black in coloration with light yellowish markings with dark borders. The plastron color varies from cream to yellow and is patterned with dark lines... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
False Map Turtle
Graptemys pseudogeographica
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
Western Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
River Cooter
Pseudemys concinna
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
Florida Redbelly Turtle
Pseudemys nelsoni
Baja California Slider
Trachemys nebulosa
Three-toed Box Turtle
Terrapene triunguis
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 4 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Ouachita Map Turtle in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Ouachita Map Turtle sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Ouachita Map Turtle in Saguaro National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Ouachita Map Turtle in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.