SpeciesFacts

All species › Reptiles › Northern Map Turtle

Northern Map Turtle

Graptemys geographica

Reptile · family Emydidae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
24 states[3]
Typical length
11 in[4]

The Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) is a reptile in the family Emydidae[5]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act and NatureServe calls it Secure across the United States[1][6].

Conservation status

The Northern Map Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix III[8]. NatureServe notes that data are scarce, but the species is believed to be declining in parts of its range[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix III
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Where Northern Map Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the Northern Map Turtle as native in 24 US states and territories[3]. They include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia[3]. NatureServe also gives each of these states its own conservation rank, shown in the table on this page[11]. The National Park Service records it in 16 park units[12].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S3VTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S3NYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: native, state rank S4IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank SUNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S2WVVirginia: native, state rank S3VAMaryland: native, state rank S1MDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S3KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S1NCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S1OKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: native, state rank S1MSAlabama: native, state rank S3ALGeorgia: native, state rank SUGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (24 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS3Vulnerable
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaSUUnrankable
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4Apparently Secure
KansasS3Vulnerable
KentuckyS5Secure
MarylandS1Critically Imperiled
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MississippiS1Critically Imperiled
MissouriS5Secure
New JerseySUUnrankable
New YorkS3Vulnerable
North CarolinaS1Critically Imperiled
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaS1Critically Imperiled
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
VermontS3Vulnerable
VirginiaS3Vulnerable
West VirginiaS2Imperiled
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

NatureServe records habitats such as medium rivers, creeks, pools and shallow water[13]. The notes describe slow rivers and lakes with mud bottoms, logs for basking and plenty of water plants[14]. In winter, turtles may rest on river bottoms[14]. Females dig a nest in soft soil or sand[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size and diet

NatureServe describes the adult diet as invertivore, which means it eats animals without backbones[15]. In Wisconsin, adult females eat mostly mollusks, along with crayfish and insect larvae[16]. Males are thought to eat more insects[16]. The typical length recorded is 27 cm (11 in)[4]. A female lays one or more clutches with up to 20 eggs[17]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 100,000 to more than 1,000,000 individuals[10].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 27 cm (11 in)
Food habits[15] Invertivore

When to look for it

The Northern Map Turtle is diurnal, which means it is active in the daytime[18]. It is most active from April to September, and it may move slowly under ice in winter[19]. Nesting runs from spring into early summer[17]. On GBIF, most records fall in May, June and July[20]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].

January: 30 recordsJanFebruary: 38 recordsFebMarch: 155 recordsMarApril: 673 recordsAprMay: 1,642 recordsMayJune: 1,862 recordsJunJuly: 1,085 recordsJulAugust: 1,000 recordsAugSeptember: 645 recordsSepOctober: 279 recordsOctNovember: 58 recordsNovDecember: 17 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January30
February38
March155
April673
May1,642
June1,862
July1,085
August1,000
September645
October279
November58
December17

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Northern Map Turtle as present in 16 park units[12]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana[21]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Northern Map Turtle endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it N5 (Secure) in the United States[6].
Where does the Northern Map Turtle live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 24 US states and territories, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana[3]. These five states also have the most GBIF records, which follow observer effort[21].
What does the Northern Map Turtle eat?
It is an invertivore, which means it eats animals without backbones[15]. In Wisconsin, adult females eat mostly mollusks, crayfish and insect larvae[16].
How big is a Northern Map Turtle?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 27 cm (11 in)[4].
When can you see a Northern Map Turtle?
It is most active from April to September[19]. GBIF records peak in May, June and July[20].

Facts and sources

  1. Northern Map Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Northern Map Turtle: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Northern Map Turtle as native in 24 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 27 cm (11 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) is a reptile in the family Emydidae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix III (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Northern Map Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to >1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Northern Map Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. NPSpecies park lists recording Northern Map Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Northern Map Turtle: Sand/dune, Riparian, Medium river, Creek, Low gradient, Pool, Shallow water. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Northern Map Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Northern Map Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Northern Map Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on phenology for Northern Map Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of Northern Map Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Northern Map Turtle: Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.