Map Turtles

Map turtles are primarily riverine and each species is typically confined to one or just a few river drainages. Florida is home to two of the fourteen map turtle species found in the southeastern United States: Barbour’s map turtle (Gratemys barbouri) and Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti). Both map turtle species are only found in Florida’s panhandle: Barbour's map turtles are found in the Apalachicola, Chipola, Choctawhatchee and Ocklockonee rivers while Escambia map turtles are limited to the Escambia and Yellow Rivers. Barbour's map turtles are a State-designated Threatened species and both species are federally listed due to similarity of appearance to the Pearl River map turtle (G. pearlensis).